DCHP-3

spruce gum †

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

a resinous secretion of the spruce, used for caulking canoes, chewing, in medicine, etc.; also, a globule of this substance as found on the tree.

See: Canada balsam(def. 1)

Quotations

1896
Wisagatchak soon tired of the manner of traveling and told the fox to bring him some clear spruce gum.
1909
While none were observing her she had gleefully clambered out over the solid mass, looking for spruce-gums.
1953
When done by a skilled wood-worker, little or no caulking was necessary to make the box water-tight. Knot-holes and other defects were plugged with shredded cedar-bark saturated with hot spruce-gum.