Oakum

Quick meaning: Oakum is a noun meaning Coarse fibres separated by hackling from flax or hemp when preparing the latter for spinning.

Meaning

Coarse fibres separated by hackling from flax or hemp when preparing the latter for spinning.

More Meanings

1. Fibres chiefly obtained by untwisting old rope, which are used to caulk or pack gaps between boards of wooden ships and joints in masonry and plumbing, and sometimes for dressing wounds.

Example Sentences

My eyesight began to fail, from the strain of picking oakum in my cell.

Shingle Tiles make a Leak-Proof roof without the use of cements and spun oakums.

[N]ow that I think of it, he's always wanting oakum to stuff into the toes of his boots.

Earlier that morning he had gotten the oakum ready for the deck, soaking the hemp in pine tar.

Word Forms

• oakums

Synonyms for oakum

Depending on context, synonyms include hards, tow.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include picking, pickers, hackle, flaxcomb, heckling, strick.

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