Oakum (Noun)
Meaning
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.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The shipwrights used oakum to seal the gaps between the wooden planks of the hull.
- Oakum was a crucial material in the construction and maintenance of sailing vessels.
- The old sailor's hands were stained with tar from years of working with oakum.
- The naval yard was filled with the smell of tar and oakum as the ship was prepared for launch.
- To caulk the seams of the wooden ship, the sailors used a mixture of oakum and tar.