dam

Meanings

Noun

• A structure placed across a flowing body of water to stop the flow or part of the flow, generally for purposes such as retaining or diverting some of the water or retarding the release of accumulated water to avoid abrupt flooding.
• The water reservoir resulting from placing such structure.
• A device to prevent a tooth from getting wet during dental work, consisting of a rubber sheet held with a band.
• A reservoir.
• A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace.
• Female parent, mother, generally regarding breeding of animals.
• A kind of crowned piece in the game of draughts.
• An obsolete Indian copper coin, equal to a fortieth of a rupee.
• A former coin of Nepal, 128 of which were worth one mohar.

Verb

• To block the flow of water.

Interjection

• Damn.

Origin

• From Middle English dam, damme, from Old English dam, damm, from Proto-West Germanic *damm, from Proto-Germanic *dammaz.
• Variant of dame. domina, and donna.
• Said to be possibly coined from the English phrase "I don't give a damn," referring to its small worth.