caulk

(kôk)

transitive verb

  1. to stop up (the cracks, seams, etc.) of (a window frame, boat, etc.) as with a puttylike sealant or oakum
  2. to make (a joint of overlapping plates) tight by hammering the edge of one plate into the side of the other

Origin: ME cauken, to tread < OFr cauquer < L calcare < calx, a heel: see calcar

noun

a soft, resilient, puttylike compound for use in caulking

Related Forms:

See caulk in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also calk

verb caulked also calked, caulk·ing also calk·ing, caulks also calks
verb, transitive
  1. To make watertight or airtight by filling or sealing: caulk a pipe joint; caulked the cracks between the boards with mud.
  2. Nautical To make (a boat) watertight by packing seams with a waterproof material, such as oakum or pitch.
verb, intransitive
To apply caulking: caulked all around the window frame.
noun
Caulking.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English cauken, to press

Origin: , from Old North French cauquer

Origin: , from Latin calcāre, to tread

Origin: , from calx, heel

.

Related Forms:

  • caulkˈer noun

Learn more about caulk

caulk

link/cite print suggestion box