OAKUMS

Noun

oakums

plural of oakum

Source: Wiktionary

OAKUM

Oak"um, n. Etym: [AS. acumba; pref. er-, Goth. us-, orig. meaning, out) + cemban to comb, camb comb. See Comb.]

1. The material obtained by untwisting and picking into loose fiber old hemp ropes; -- used for calking the seams of ships, stopping leaks, etc.

2. The coarse portion separated from flax or hemp in nackling. Knight. White oakum, that made from untarred rope.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition