Kam
/kæm/noun
An obsolete or dialectal English form of “comb,” especially a tool used for disentangling hair or wool.
Did you know?Kam traces back to a Germanic word associated with a comb’s teeth and may ultimately connect with an ancient Indo-European root meaning “tooth” or “nail.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gembh-
“A reconstructed root associated with a tooth, nail, or pointed projection.”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*kambaz
“A toothed implement used for combing.”
Old English
Old English
camb
“A comb or toothed instrument.”
Middle English
Middle English
kam
“A comb; an alternate spelling and pronunciation of the word.”
Modern English
English
kam
“An obsolete or dialectal form of “comb,” preserved in historical and regional usage.”