Associations to the word «Oakum»

Wiktionary

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

Dictionary definition

OAKUM, noun. 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.

Wise words

Every once in a while, you let a word or phrase out and you want to catch it and bring it back. You can't do that. It's gone, gone forever.
Dan Quayle