oakums

Noun

oakum (countable and uncountable, plural oakums)

1. (historical) Coarse fibres separated by hackling from flax or hemp when preparing the latter for spinning.

   Synonyms:

   hards, tow

2. (historical) Fibres chiefly obtained by untwisting old rope, which are used to caulk or pack gaps between boards of wooden ships and joints in masonry and plumbing, and sometimes for dressing wounds.
   • [W]ho should it be but Mr. Daniel, all muffled up, and his face as black as the chimney, and covered with dirt, pitch, and tarr, and powder, and muffled with dirty clouts, and his right eye stopped with okum. He is come last night at five o'clock from the fleete, with a comrade of his that hath...1666 June 13 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “June 4th, 1666 (Lord’s Day)”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume...