Coomb
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -uËm
Origin
Anglo-Saxon cumb a liquid measure, perhaps from Latin cumba boat, tomb of stone, from Ancient Greek hollow of a vessel, cup, boat, but compare German Kumpf bowl.
Full definition of coomb
Noun
coomb
(plural coombs)- An old English measure of corn (e.g., wheat), equal to half a quarter or 4 bushels. Also comb.
- 1866, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, It was equal to half a quarter, i.e. is identical with the coomb of the eastern counties.
- 1790, July 13, Thomas Jefferson, U.S. Secretary of State, Plan for establishing uniformity in the Coinage, Weights, and Measures of the United States," report communicated to the House of Representatives, Two kilderkins, or strikes, make a measure called a barrel, liquid, and a coomb, dry; this last term being ancient and little used.
- Alternative spelling of combe
- 1896, Tomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge Chapter 4, From the centre of each side of this tree-bound square ran avenues east, west, and south into the wide expanse of corn-land and coomb to the distance of a mile or so.