Etymology: The same word as coom n.¹, pointing to a Middle English culm , colm . Connection with col , coal n., suggests itself, and is strengthened by the synonymy of Middle English bicolmen , bicollen , the former a derivative of colm , culm , the latter of colwen , < col , coal n.: compare becoom vb. at be- prefix 6a (be- prefix 6a) collow n., colly n.¹ But the actual analysis of the word is obscure.

Etymology: Apparently the reflex of an unattested Old English *cām < an ablaut variant (o -grade) of the Germanic base of Old High German kīm (Middle High German kīm , German Keim ) seed, shoot, sprout < the Germanic base of chine v.¹ + a Germanic suffix forming nouns (ultimately the same Indo-European suffix as shown also for example by time n.). Compare Old High German kīmo (Middle High German kīme ) in the same sense, a parallel formation from the same verbal base. Compare malt-culms n. N.E.D. (1891) at Come sb.² gives the pronunciation as (kō^um /kəʊm/, kūm /kuːm/). The expected Middle English long open ō was at least occasionally raised in this word to long close ō (compare similar variation in comb n. and womb n., and see discussion in E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II §§ 15, 151). Therefore, in late Middle English and early modern English this word was partly homonymous with come v. (compare present-stem forms like coome at that entry) and so became associated with it (compare especially come v. 20, and also other senses related to the notion of emergence at come v. II.****). Thus, some instances of α. forms at this entry could alternatively be interpreted as showing come n.¹ (compare sense 2 at that entry), and some instances at come v. 20 as showing conversions of this word. Compare also culming n. In β. forms showing an originally graphic alteration (leading to a spelling pronunciation) after culm n.¹ alongside coom n.¹ In γ. forms showing a graphic alteration after coomb n.² or comb n.

Etymology: Shortened < culmen n.

Etymology: < Latin culmus stalk, stem (esp. of grain).