oakum
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oakum definition
oakum (ō′kəm)
noun
loose, stringy hemp fiber gotten by taking apart old ropes and treated as with tar, used as a caulking material
Etymology: ME okom < OE acumba, tow, oakum < a-, away, out + camb, comb: lit., what is combed out
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
oakum Usage Examples
Converse of object
- pick: Ernest Jones, " master of his own time, " had to pick oakum, or spend his days in a dark cell.
Modifies a noun
- picking: Work for men was usually stone breaking or oakum picking.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
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MLA Style
"oakum." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/oakum>
APA Style
oakum. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/oakum

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