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
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Examples of oakum
oakum
The strands of old junk were teased apart in the process called picking oakum.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Some were put to hard labour, perhaps on a treadmill, or picking oakum to earn their keep.
From the edp24.co.uk
When immersed in water the wood swells, compresses the oakum and making the gaps watertight.
From the thisisbristol.co.uk
It might have leaked many years ago, and the brown color might be due to the color of caulking called oakum.
From the boston.com
Oakum is more commonly used in sealing pipes.
From the jsonline.com
Because of colonial and naval expansion of the era, economies needed large quantities of hemp for rope and oakum.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Others picked oakum using a large metal nail known as a spike, which may be the source of the workhouse's nickname.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Early soil pipes were cast iron, and the joints were sealed with oakum and molten lead, and will give yeoman service for generations.
From the boston.com
If any joints leak, have them recaulked, which is the modern general term for oakum, which was used to caulk boats and wooden ships.
From the boston.com
- 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
- Oakum is a preparation of tarred fibre used in shipbuilding, for caulking or packing the joints of timbers in wooden vessels and the deck planking of iron and steel ships, as well as cast iron plumbing applications. ...
- A material, consisting of tarred fibres, used to caulk or pack joints in plumbing, masonry, and wooden shipbuilding
- Loosely woven hemp rope that has been treated with oil or other waterproofing agent; it is used to caulk joints in a bell and spigot pipe and fittings.
- Material used for caulking hulls. Often hemp picked from old untwisted ropes.
- Loosely twisted hemp fibers, impregnated with tar, used in rope. Picking oakum apart was common busywork in the prison or workhouse. The separated oakum was then used to caulk ships. Oliver picked oakum at the workhouse in Oliver Twist.
- A caulking material used in waterproofing the seams between strakes of planking. It is a mass of strong, pliable tarred rope fibers obtained from scrap rope, which swell when wet. The fibers are soaked in pine tar and loosely bundled together.
- Lengths of shredded rope used with pitch to seal apertures between planks and such like.
- The packing material used before sealing a hubbed cast-iron fitting with lead. Back to alphabetical list
