Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SEAM, n.¹ [Sax. seam; D. zoom; G. saum; Dan. söm; Sw. söm, a seam, a suture; söma, to sew. The G. saum signifies a hem or border. The word probably signifies the uniting by sewing. In Danish, sömmer signifies to hem, and to beseem, to be seemly, to become, to be suitable. We see then that seam and seem, are from one root. The primary sense is to meet, to come or put together. See Same and Assemble. Class Sm, No. 33, 40.]

1. The suture or uniting of two edges of cloth by the needle. – Dryden. The coat was without seam, woven from the top through-out. – John xix.
2. The joint or juncture of planks in a ship's side or deck; or rather the intervals between the edges of boards or planks in a floor, &c. The seams of ships are filled with oakum, and covered with pitch.
3. In mines, a vein or stratum of metal, ore, coal, and the like. – Encyc. Kirwan. In geology, thin layers which separate strata of greater magnitude.
4. A cicatrix or sear.
5. A measure of eight bushels of corn; or the vessel that contains it. [Not used in America.] A seam of glass, the quantity of 120 pounds, or 24 stone of five pounds each. [Not used in America.] Encyc.