The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Loam \Loam\ (l[=o]m), n. [AS. l[=a]m; 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.
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            We wash a wall of loam; we labor in vain. --Hooker.
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   2. (Founding) A mixture of sand, clay, and other materials,
      used in making molds for large castings, often without a
      pattern.
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   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.
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