Calking

kauk’ing, the art of making the seams of wooden ships water-tight. By means of a dull, thin instrument and a mallet, the calker drives loose, tarry oakum, usually untwisted rope, cotton, or the like, into the cracks or seams between the planks of a ship’s bottom and sides to prevent the entrance of water. After the crevice is driven full a coating of hot, melted pitch is applied to the seam.