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oakum

[ oh-kuhm ]

noun

  1. loose fiber obtained by untwisting and picking apart old ropes, used for caulking the seams of ships.


oakum

/ ˈəʊkəm /

noun

  1. loose fibre obtained by unravelling old rope, used esp for caulking seams in wooden ships
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of oakum1

before 1000; Middle English okome, Old English ācuma, variant of ācumba, literally, offcombings, equivalent to ā- separative prefix ( a- 3 ) + -cumba ( comb )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of oakum1

Old English ācuma, variant of ācumba, literally: off-combings, from ā- off + -cumba, from cemban to comb
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Example Sentences

Nor was even breaking stone or picking oakum to be paid for as wages, or regarded as employment.

On the floor he spread a lot of wet oakum wads to prevent the splashing of the metal setting the floor afire.

The oakum is forced tight enough to make a water-tight joint.

This piece of oakum is forced to the bottom of the hub, then another piece is put in.

A wad of oakum is taken and forced into the hub with the yarning iron.

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