Loam (?), n. [AS. lām; akin to D. leem, G. lehm, and E. lime. See 4th Lime.] 1. A kind of soil; an earthy mixture of clay and sand, with organic matter to which its fertility is chiefly due.
We wash a wall of loam; we labor in vain. Hooker.
2. (Founding) A mixture of sand, clay, and other materials, used in making molds for large castings, often without a pattern.
Loam mold(Founding), a mold made with loam. See Loam, n., 2. — Loam molding, the process or business of making loam molds. Loam plate, an iron plate upon which a section of a loam mold rests, or from which it is suspended. — Loam work, loam molding or loam molds.