oakum
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
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.
