noun · countable / uncountable · rare

oakum

oak·um

oakum · oakums

пакля

Werg

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

UK/ˈəʊkəm/US/ˈoʊk(ə)m/

Meaning

2 senses

(countable, historical, uncountable)Coarse fibres separated by hackling from flax or hemp when preparing the latter for spinning.
па́кляpáklja
(countable, historical, uncountable)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.
Werg
па́кляpáklja
loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships

Translations

8 languages

Русский

By meaning 1

coarse fibres separated by hackling from flax or hemp when preparing the latter for spinning:

Deutsch

By meaning 1

fibres chiefly obtained by untwisting old rope which are used to caulk, etc.:

Origin

From Late Middle English okom, okome (“oakum”) [and other forms], from Old English ācumba

From Late Middle English okom, okome (“oakum”) [and other forms], from Old English ācumba (“oakum”, literally “that which has been combed out, off-combings”) [and other forms], from ācemban (“to comb out”), from Proto-Germanic *uz- (from Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-, *ūd- (“out; up”), or *h₂ew- (“away from, off”)) + *kambijaną (“to comb”) (ultimately from *ǵómbʰos (“row of teeth; tooth; peg”), *ǵembʰ- (“nail; tooth; to gnaw through; to pierce”)). See also out and comb.

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