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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Precepts should be so finely wrought together . . . that no coarse seam may discover where they join. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Geol. & Mining) A thin layer or stratum; a narrow vein between two thicker strata; as, a seam of coal. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A line or depression left by a cut or wound; a scar; a cicatrix. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mark with something resembling a seam; to line; to scar. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seamed o'er with wounds which his own saber gave. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become ridgy; to crack open. [ 1913 Webster ]

Later their lips began to parch and seam. L. Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. seám, LL. sauma, L. sagma a packsaddle, fr. Gr. &unr_;. 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Seamen A merman; the male of the mermaid. [ R. ] “Not to mention mermaids or seamen.” Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Seamen [ AS. saeman. ] One whose occupation is to assist in the management of ships at sea; a mariner; a sailor; -- applied both to officers and common mariners, but especially to the latter. Opposed to landman, or landsman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Able seaman, a sailor who is practically conversant with all the duties of common seamanship. --
Ordinary seaman. See Ordinary. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having or showing the skill of a practical seaman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The skill of a good seaman; the art, or skill in the art, of working a ship. [ 1913 Webster ]