Oakum

Origin

From Middle English okome, from Old English ācumba ("oakum", literally that which has been combed out, off-combings), a derivative of ācemban ("to comb out"), from Proto-Germanic *uz- + *kambijaną ("to comb"), from Proto-Indo-European *uds-, *ūd- ("out") + Proto-Indo-European *ǵombʰ-, *ǵembʰ- ("tooth, nail; to pierce, gnaw through"). More at out, comb.

Full definition of oakum

Noun

1. A material, consisting of tarred fibres, used to caulk or pack joints in plumbing, masonry, and wooden shipbuilding.
2. The coarse portion separated from flax or hemp in hackling.