slick cam

English

Etymology

The second word is possibly related to calm.

Noun

slick cam (uncountable)

1. (North Carolina Outer Banks dialect) Smooth water.
   • 2007, Terry L. Noble, Starting at Sea Level, →ISBN, page 71:

     "It's slick cam out here this morning," my father said, using the waterman's phrase for totally calm.

   • 2009, Country Life, volume 203, page 58:

     'It's a very slick cam out there today so oi don't expect you Dingbatters got very quamish?' enquired the Capt Birdseye lookalike at Ocracoke Island harbour.

   • 2013, Anna Gill, The Island Woman: A Chesapeake Story, →ISBN, page 160:

     “Looks like slick cam today, Cap'n.” Charles stared straight up at her. “Slick what?” “Slick cam. It means the water's as smooth as glass. I told you they speak differently over here.”

   • 2013, Anola Pickett, Whisper Island, →ISBN:

     "Suit yourself. It'll be near two hours afore I head back. The Sound is slick cam today. Should be a smooth trip over to the island."

References

• Walt Wolfram, Hoi Toide on the Outer Banks: The Story of the Ocracoke Brogue (1997, →ISBN:

  slick cam (n.): A very calm water, typically used with reference to the sound ("It was a slick cam out there today"). Cam is pronounced so that it rhymes with ram. Also slick calm.