culm

¹

[kuhlm]

noun

1. coal dust; slack.

2. anthracite, especially of inferior grade.

culm

²

[kuhlm]

noun

1. a stem or stalk, especially the jointed and usually hollow stem of grasses.

verb (used without object)

1. to grow or develop into a culm.

culm

¹

/ kʌlm /

noun

1. coal-mine waste

2. inferior anthracite

culm

²

/ kʌlm /

noun

1. the hollow jointed stem of a grass or sedge

Culm

³

noun

1. a formation consisting mainly of shales and sandstone deposited during the Carboniferous period in parts of Europe

culm

1. The stem of a grass or similar plant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of culm¹

1300–50; Middle English colme, probably equivalent to col coal + -m suffix of uncertain meaning (compare -m in Old English fæthm fathom, wæstm growth)

Origin of culm²

1650–60; < Latin culmus stalk; akin to calamus, haulm

Word History and Origins

Origin of culm¹

C14: probably related to _coal

Origin of culm²

C17: from Latin culmus stalk; see _haulm

Origin of culm³

C19: from _culm ¹

Example Sentences

The research will test whether hemp can grow with acid mine water irrigation and on culm land.

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“It could also be a culm bank where they put all the refuse of the coal industry. It does look like there are trees growing on it.”

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Both are the only mammals able to grind down culm.

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Generally, silt contains more carbon than the banks of culm.

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In harvesting her bamboo today, Ordonez selected older culms because they last longer than newer ones, she said.

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