caulk

or calk

[ kawk ]

/ kɔk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR caulk ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to fill or close seams or crevices of (a tank, window, etc.) in order to make watertight, airtight, etc.

to make (a vessel) watertight by filling the seams between the planks with oakum or other material driven snug.

to fill or close (a seam, joint, etc.), as in a boat.

to drive the edges of (plating) together to prevent leakage.

noun

Also caulk·ing

[kaw-king] /ˈkɔ kɪŋ/. a material or substance used for caulking.

Nearby words

cauliflower ear, cauliflower fungus, cauliflowerette, cauline, caulis, caulk, caulker, caulonia, caumesthesia, cauquenes, cauri

Origin of caulk

1350–1400; < Latin calcāre to trample, tread on (verbal derivative of calx heel), conflated with Middle English cauken < Old French cauquer to trample < Latin, as above

Can be confused

calk caulk

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for caulk

It's a fine tub, and we are mighty lucky to find that man to caulk it.
Vanished Arizona|Martha Summerhayes
If there are cracks, caulk them, and fill the tub with water.
The Young Housekeeper's Friend|Mrs. (Mary Hooker) Cornelius
However, as there was nothing to be done, he went down for a caulk.
The Tiger of Mysore|G. A. Henty
"Haines was to send a man to caulk a seam in the Nancy," he muttered.
Prisoners of Hope|Mary Johnston

We were also delayed for want of caulkers to caulk the ship, which was absolutely necessary to be done before we put to sea.
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 15 (of 18)|Robert Kerr

British Dictionary definitions for caulk

caulk

calk

/ (kɔːk) /

verb

to stop up (cracks, crevices, etc) with a filler

nautical to pack (the seams) between the planks of the bottom of (a vessel) with waterproof material to prevent leakage

Derived Forms

caulker or calker, noun

Word Origin for caulk

C15: from Old Northern French cauquer to press down, from Latin calcāre to trample, from calx heel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012