Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A female parent; -- used of beasts, especially of quadrupeds; sometimes applied in contempt to a human mother. 2. (n.) A kind or crowned piece in the game of draughts. 3. (n.) A barrier to prevent the flow of a liquid; esp., a bank of earth, or wall of any kind, as of masonry or wood, built across a water course, to confine and keep back flowing water. 4. (n.) A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace. 5. (v. t.) To obstruct or restrain the flow of, by a dam; to confine by constructing a dam, as a stream of water; -- generally used with in or up. 6. (v. t.) To shut up; to stop up; to close; to restrain. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia DAM ('em, ordinary Hebrew word for "mother"): Hebrew law prohibited the destruction of the "dam" and the young of birds at the same time, commanding that if the young be taken from a nest the dam be allowed to escape (Deuteronomy 22:6, 7). In the same spirit it enjoined the taking of an animal for slaughter before it had been seven days with its "dam" (Exodus 22:30 Leviticus 22:27; compare Exodus 23:19).

Multi-Version Concordance Dam (5 Occurrences) Exodus 22:30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV) Leviticus 22:27 When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT) Deuteronomy 22:6 If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS) Deuteronomy 22:7 But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS) Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out. (WEB NIV)