Leam
/liːm/noun
A dialect word meaning mud, mire, or slimy sediment.
Did you know?In older English dialects, leam could name the sticky, low-lying muck left by water, showing how everyday speech often preserved the most physical, earthbound words.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
lēam
“mud, mire, clay; earth or soil”
Middle English
ME
leam
“mud, mire, clay, soft earth”
Modern English
EN
leam
“regional or dialect word for mud or mire”
Modern English
EN
leam
“rare dialectal term for sticky sediment or muddy ground”