DCHP-1 Online

jam ((v.))

• 1 v. of ice, form into an ice-jam.

  See also: ice-jam  

  • 1771  (1911)  The ice [was] firmly jammed quite across. . . .
  • 1846  The ice still continues firmly jammed opposite the New Market. . . .
  • 1924  Constantly comes the boom and thunder of the icefields as they jam and raft high along the coast

• 2 v. of ships in ice, become caught in an ice-jam.

  See also: ice-jam  

  • 1784  (1954)  The boat (they tell me) they had left at Matapooswom the Ice having so jam'd her in the 23 Instant, that their utmost endeavours for getting her out proved fruitless.
  • 1961  A couple of miles away, Captain Wes had finally got Newfoundland free, though a short time later she jammed again.

• 3 v. of logs, become hung up in a jam (def. 2).

  See also: jam ((n.)) (def. 2)  

  • 1836  Intelligence has been received in Town . . . that a large quantity of Timber which had been jammed on the Rapids there in coming down, and left dry by the falling of the water, had been set fire to.
  • 1966  A limited number of railroad ties were floated down [the Stellako River] until 1957. The ties, of course, are sawn, have no bark that peels off and covers the bottom, are shorter than saw logs and less liable to jam.