culm

¹

[ kuhlm ]

noun

1. coal dust; slack.
2. anthracite, especially of inferior grade.

culm

²

[ kuhlm ]

noun

1. a stem or stalk, especially the jointed and usually hollow stem of grasses.

verb (used without object)

1. to grow or develop into a culm.

Culm

¹

noun

1. a formation consisting mainly of shales and sandstone deposited during the Carboniferous period in parts of Europe

culm

²

/ kʌlm /

noun

1. the hollow jointed stem of a grass or sedge

culm

³

/ kʌlm /

noun

1. coal-mine waste
2. inferior anthracite

culm

/ kŭlm /

1. The stem of a grass or similar plant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of culm¹

1300–50; Middle English colme, probably equivalent to col coal + -m suffix of uncertain meaning (compare -m in Old English fæthm fathom, wæstm growth)

Origin of culm²

1650–60; < Latin culmus stalk; akin to calamus, haulm

Word History and Origins

Origin of culm¹

C19: from culm ¹

Origin of culm²

C17: from Latin culmus stalk; see haulm

Origin of culm³

C14: probably related to coal

Example Sentences

The research will test whether hemp can grow with acid mine water irrigation and on culm land.

From Washington Times

“It could also be a culm bank where they put all the refuse of the coal industry. It does look like there are trees growing on it.”

From Seattle Times

Both are the only mammals able to grind down culm.

From Scientific American

Generally, silt contains more carbon than the banks of culm.

From Washington Times

In harvesting her bamboo today, Ordonez selected older culms because they last longer than newer ones, she said.

From Washington Post