Definition

1. Verb:
   • To caulk: The primary meaning of "xảm" is to seal the seams or gaps in a wooden boat or ship by driving in oakum, pitch, or other waterproof material to make it watertight.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Các thủy thủ đang xảm thuyền trước mùa mưa bão. (The sailors are caulking the boat before the stormy season.)
  • Công việc của người thợ xảm là rất quan trọng để thuyền không bị rò rỉ. (The caulker's work is very important to prevent the boat from leaking.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is highly specialized and is almost exclusively used in the context of traditional boatbuilding, ship maintenance, and maritime crafts.

Variants and Related Words

• Thợ xảm (n): caulker. A person whose job is to caulk boats and ships.

  • Ông cụ là một thợ xảm lành nghề. (The old man is a skilled caulker.)

• Xảm tàu (v): to caulk a ship.

  • Xưởng đóng tàu đang xảm tàu mới. (The shipyard is caulking the new ship.)

Synonyms

• Caulk: to seal seams to make watertight.
• Seal: to close gaps securely.

Related Terms

• Chèn: to pack or wedge. While similar, "chèn" is a more general term for packing gaps and is not specific to maritime use.
• Trét: to plaster or fill (e.g., with putty). This refers to filling holes or cracks, typically in a stationary structure, not specifically to the nautical process of caulking.