Seam

Seam (sēm), n. [See Saim.] Grease; tallow; lard. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Shak. Dryden.

Seam, n. [OE. seem, seam, AS. seÁm; akin to D. zoom, OHG. soum, G. saum, LG. soom, Icel. saumr, Sw. & Dan. söm, and E. sew. √ 156. See Sew to fasten with thread.] 1. The fold or line formed by sewing together two pieces of cloth or leather.

2. Hence, a line of junction; a joint; a suture, as on a ship, a floor, or other structure; the line of union, or joint, of two boards, planks, metal plates, etc.

Precepts should be so finely wrought together . . . that no coarse seam may discover where they join.

3. (Geol. & Mining) A thin layer or stratum; a narrow vein between two thicker strata; as, a seam of coal.

4. A line or depression left by a cut or wound; a scar; a cicatrix.

Seam blast, a blast made by putting the powder into seams or cracks of rocks. -- Seam lace, a lace used by carriage makers to cover seams and edges; -- called also seaming lace. -- Seam presser. (Agric.) (a) A heavy roller to press down newly plowed furrows. (b) A tailor's sadiron for pressing seams. Knight. -- Seam set, a set for flattering the seams of metal sheets, leather work, etc.

Seam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Seaming.] 1. To form a seam upon or of; to join by sewing together; to unite.

2. To mark with something resembling a seam; to line; to scar.

Seamed o'er with wounds which his own saber gave.

3. To make the appearance of a seam in, as in knitting a stocking; hence, to knit with a certain stitch, like that in such knitting.

Seam, v. i. To become ridgy; to crack open.

Later their lips began to parch and seam.

Seam, n. [AS. seÁm, LL. sauma, L. sagma a packsaddle, fr. Gr. ?. See Sumpter.] A denomination of weight or measure. Specifically: (a) The quantity of eight bushels of grain. "A seam of oats." P. Plowman. (b) The quantity of 120 pounds of glass. [Eng.]