Forms: 7– chinam, chenam, 8– chunam. [Tamil chŭṇṇam lime, ground mortar, f. Skt. chūrṇa any powder, lime, f. chūrṇ to pulverize.] Cement or plaster largely used in India, made of shell-lime and sea-sand.
1687. Madras Consultations, in Wheeler, I. 168 (Y.). Stores of Brick, Iron, Stones, and Chenam.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., I. v. 40. The Natives chew it with Chinam (Lime of calcined Oyster-Shells).
1763. Verelst, in Phil. Trans., LIII. 266. Our new room … as strong as bricks and chunam could make it.
1799. Naval Chron., II. 51. The Chunam used in the East Indies to cover the bottoms of ships.
1832. Marryat, N. Forster, III. i. 4. A spacious hall coated and floored with chunam.
1857. S. Osborn, Quedah, iv. 58. A small box of fine white chunam, made from the lime procured from burnt sea-shells.
1865. J. Cameron, Malay. Ind., 76. Kept beautifully white with chenam.
b. attrib.
1791. Anderson, Corr., 63. The Farmer … has a Brick and Chunam Vat.
1813. J. Forbes, Oriental Mem., I. 208. Chunan Coverings of Temples.
1847. Mrs. Sherwood, Life, 448. The black baby was lying with his face downwards on the cold chunam floor.
1859. J. Lang, Wand. India, 149. The head of the chunam (plaster) tomb.
