Oakum Definition

ōkəm
noun
Loose, stringy hemp fiber gotten by taking apart old ropes and treated as with tar, used as a caulking material.
Webster's New World

Origin of Oakum

  • From Middle English okome, from Old English ācumba (“oakum", literally “that which has been combed out, off-combings"), a derivative of ācemban (“to comb out"), from Proto-Germanic *uz- + *kambijanÄ… (“to comb"), from Proto-Indo-European *uds-, *Å«d- (“out") + Proto-Indo-European *ǵombÊ°-, *ǵembÊ°- (“tooth, nail; to pierce, gnaw through"). More at out, comb.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English okom from Old English ācumba gembh- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Oakum Sentence Examples

  • Work for men was usually stone breaking or oakum picking.

  • In 1829, 314 indoor paupers were employed in spinning, weaving and picking oakum.

  • Ernest Jones, " master of his own time, " had to pick oakum, or spend his days in a dark cell.

  • This consists of passing a sail, attached to cords, and charged with oakum, wool, and other materials, under the vessel's keel, in such a manner that the suction of the leak may draw the canvas into the aperture, and thus partially stop the vent.

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Words Starting With

OOAOAK

Words Ending With

MUMKUM

Unscrambles

oakum

Words Starting With O and Ending With M

Starts With O & Ends With MStarts With OA & Ends With MStarts With O & Ends With UM

Word Length

5 Letter Words5 Letter Words Starting With O5 Letter Words Ending With M