oakum

[ oh-kuhm ]

/ ˈoʊ kəm /

Save This Word!

noun

loose fiber obtained by untwisting and picking apart old ropes, used for caulking the seams of ships.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of oakum

before 1000; Middle English okome,Old English ācuma, variant of ācumba, literally, offcombings, equivalent to ā- separative prefix (see a-³) + -cumba (see comb)

Words nearby oakum

Oak Park, Oak Ridge, oak-root rot, Oaks, oaktag, oakum, Oakville, oak wilt, oaky, Oamaru stone, O & M

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use oakum in a sentence

Nor was even breaking stone or picking oakum to be paid for as wages, or regarded as employment.
English Poor Law Policy|Sidney Webb
On the floor he spread a lot of wet oakum wads to prevent the splashing of the metal setting the floor afire.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas
The oakum is forced tight enough to make a water-tight joint.
Elements of Plumbing|Samuel Dibble
This piece of oakum is forced to the bottom of the hub, then another piece is put in.
Elements of Plumbing|Samuel Dibble

A wad of oakum is taken and forced into the hub with the yarning iron.
Elements of Plumbing|Samuel Dibble

British Dictionary definitions for oakum

oakum

/ (ˈəʊkəm) /

noun

loose fibre obtained by unravelling old rope, used esp for caulking seams in wooden ships

Word Origin for oakum

Old English ācuma, variant of ācumba, literally: off-combings, from ā- off + -cumba, from cemban to comb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012