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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.
oakum usage examples (more)

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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"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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