Definitions for oakumˈoʊ kəm

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

oa•kumˈoʊ kəm(n.)

  1. loose fiber obtained by untwisting and picking apart old ropes, used as a material for caulking.

    Category: Nautical, Navy

Origin of oakum:

bef. 1000; ME okome, OE ācuma, ācumba lit., offcombings

Princeton's WordNet

  1. oakum(noun)

    loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships

Wiktionary

  1. oakum(Noun)

    A material, consisting of tarred fibres, used to caulk or pack joints in plumbing, masonry, and wooden shipbuilding.

  2. Origin: From okome, from acumba, a derivative of acemban, from uz- + kambijanan, from uds- + ǵombʰ-. More at out, comb.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Oakum(noun)

    the material obtained by untwisting and picking into loose fiber old hemp ropes; -- used for calking the seams of ships, stopping leaks, etc

  2. Oakum(noun)

    the coarse portion separated from flax or hemp in nackling

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

  1. Oakum

    name given to fibres of old tarry ropes sundered by teasing, and employed in caulking the seams between planks in ships; the teasing of oakum is an occupation for prisoners in jails.


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