gaum
To smear or sticky-mess something up.
Also called gom, gorm, gaum up.
Updated September 21, 2026
gaum pronunciation
/GAWM/
Meaning
When grease, mud, molasses, or axle goo gets everywhere, you gaum it. A baby with supper on his chin is all gaumed up. A porch tracked with boots is gaumed. Appalachian talk also pairs it as mess and gaum for kids dawdling and making sticky trouble. The glossary sense of bother or confuse rides that same idea of things getting fouled up.
How folks use it
- “Don't gaum up that clean shirt with grease.”
- “The kitchen was all gaumed after they fried fish.”
Origin and etymology
Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S., especially Appalachia. Spellings wander: gaum, gom, gorm, gawm. Related begaum shows up in older Carolina and mountain writing for smearing. Exact root is murky; some hear gum in it, some point at British dialect. DARE still lists gaum up for sticky smear, strongest in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
Is gaum the same as mess?
Close. Gaum leans sticky and smeary. Mess is wider. Folks often say them together: mess and gaum.