gaum

• Gormless comes from the old Scots word gaum , meaning "attention" or "notice." —  The Word Detective
• I am satisfied it was named by the Diggers--those degraded savages who roast their dead relatives, then mix the human grease and ashes of bones with tar, and "gaum" it thick all over their heads and foreheads and ears, and go caterwauling about the hills and call it mourning. —  The Innocents Abroad — Volume 02
• Yah, you great gaum, you! —  John Bull's Other Island
• I am satisfied it was named by the Diggers -- those degraded savages who roast their dead relatives, then mix the human grease and ashes of bones with tar, and "gaum" it thick all over their heads and foreheads and ears, and go caterwauling about the hills and call it mourning. —  The Innocents Abroad
• I've always tuck pride in both you gals; but lawsy me, if Ann is goin 'to gaum' erself from head to foot like a pig learnin 'to root, why, I reckon I'll jest hang my head in shame. " —  The Desired Woman

Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms