The Spanish scholar Isidore of Seville believed that the name "caliga" derived from the Latin callus ("hard leather"), or else from the fact that the boot was laced or tied on (ligere). Strapwork styles varied from maker to maker and region to region.
The name "caliga" according to Isidore of Seville could be derived from Latin callus ("hard leather") or because it was tied on (ligare).