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DictionaryoakumRope fiber for sealing gaps
noun

oakum

OH-kum/ˈəʊkəm/

Loose fiber from old rope used to seal gaps in wooden ships.

The shipwright packs oakum into the seams between the wooden planks.

Loose teased hemp fibers and shipwright pressing oakum into seam between wooden hull planks.
Etymology
oaOld Englishaway, out
+kumOld Englishto comb

The elements convey “what is combed out”: loose fibers separated by combing. The name came to describe fibers taken from old hemp ropes and used to seal wooden ships’ seams.

In context

Storytime Haven463:46
The seamen ran to the gaping seams with oakum and with tar. In ten minutes order had been restored
Sir Nigel ⚔️🌟 | A Tale of Chivalry and Adventure | Arthur Conan Doyle

More examples

  • Workers pull old rope apart to make oakum.
  • The crew replaces the worn oakum before launching the wooden boat.
  • A caulking iron drives the oakum firmly into each gap.

Forms

oakum

Similar words

tow
Loose flax or hemp fibers, not necessarily reclaimed from rope.
caulking
Any material used to seal joints, not specifically rope fiber.