·noun The coarse portion separated from flax or hemp in nackling.
II. Oakum ·noun The material obtained by untwisting and picking into loose fiber old hemp ropes;
— used for calking the seams of ships, stopping leaks, ·etc.
[from the Anglo-Saxon æcumbe]. The state into which old ropes are reduced when they are untwisted an...
The Sailor's Word-Book
The caulker's apprentice, who attends to bring oakum, pitch, &c. ...
Oakum worked out for caulking. (Tow). ...
When a ship suffers leakage from inefficient caulking. (See seam.) ...
When the ship's labouring forces the caulking out of her seams. ...