Literary notes about mump (AI summary)
The word "mump" appears in literature with a remarkable versatility, serving both as a proper noun and a verb with varied colloquial nuances. In some works it designates a specific geographic landmark or building, as seen with the conical hill crowned by a ruined church ([1], [2], [3]), while in other texts it functions as a nickname or surname, contributing to character identity with connotations of eccentricity or embittered age ([4], [5], [6], [7]). As a verb, it adopts several meanings—from the act of sulking or grimacing, to describing a kind of bumping or hitting ([8], [9], [10], [11], [12])—and even extends to a context of begging or cadging ([13], [14], [15]). This multifaceted usage imbues the word with a range of expressiveness that authors have exploited to evoke regional dialect, social commentary, or simply to add a playful twist to their narrative style ([16], [17], [18], [19]).
- It is noteworthy for its conical hill, locally called the Mump , crowned by a ruined church (St Michael's).
— from Somerset by J. H. (Joseph Henry) Wade - The Alfred memorial is in the foreground, and in the distance is the "Mump," the lonely hill surmounted by the ruined church of Boroughbridge.]
— from What to See in England A Guide to Places of Historic Interest, Natural Beauty or Literary Association by Gordon Home - The traveller was requested to convey a note to Mump’s-hall, which he did, but was not seen alive afterwards.
— from The Roman Wall A historical, topographical, and descriptive account of the barrier of the lower isthmus, extending from the Tyne to the Solway, deduced from numerous personal surveys by J. Collingwood (John Collingwood) Bruce - At 'Mump's Ha', Bertram first met the old witch, { 138} Meg Merrilies, who played so important a part in his destiny.
— from The Country of Sir Walter Scott by Charles S. (Charles Sumner) Olcott - Mary Banks was Chrystobel and Mump Davis, a raw-boned, fiery-looking boy, part Indian, seethed and chafed under the nom de guerre of Fermentation.
— from At Boarding School with the Tucker Twins by Nell Speed - Old Mr. Mump had once made a fortune in the pickle-business; but he had had reverses, and was now very old and poor.
— from The Garden of the Plynck by Karle Wilson Baker - Messrs. Mump and Gump would have to throw in a quill-pen.
— from Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, October 27, 1920 by Various - Who mump their passion, and who, grimly smiling Still thus address the fair with voice beguiling. Air.—Cotillion.
— from Dalziels' Illustrated Goldsmith by Oliver Goldsmith - Who mump their passion, and who, grimly smiling, Still thus address the fair with voice beguiling:— Air—Cotillon.
— from The Complete Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith by Oliver Goldsmith - Who mump their passion, i.e. grimace their passion.
— from The Complete Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith by Oliver Goldsmith - “Let him mump it a bile—I mean bump it a mile!”
— from Frank Merriwell's Endurance; or, A Square Shooter by Burt L. Standish - So this disobliging beetle would just stop there, making a kind of a mump in the poor Admiral’s neck.
— from The Island of Gold: A Sailor's Yarn by Gordon Stables - Bettander (thieves’), to beg , “to mump,” or “cadge.”
— from Argot and Slang A New French and English Dictionary of the Cant Words, Quaint Expressions, Slang Terms and Flash Phrases Used in the High and Low Life of Old and New Paris by Albert Barrère - Mullin s. metheglin Mumper , Mump , Mumping a beggar, to beg Nacker s. a nag Nagging adj.
— from A Glossary of Provincial Words & Phrases in use in Somersetshire by Wadham Pigott Williams - beg from door to door, send the hat round, go a begging; mendicate[obs3], mump[obs3], cadge, beg one's bread.
— from Roget's Thesaurus by Peter Mark Roget - Or rather, he bothers Mam Widger to write them for him, and when she has said sufficiently often, "G'out yu mump-head!
— from A Poor Man's House by Stephen Sydney Reynolds - The Glover's Wife was in a heat, and did both pout and mump, Because they would not let her eat the Buttock and the Rump.
— from Humour, Wit, & Satire of the Seventeenth Century - Then the ratting spade was engaged instead of being free to mump a rat on the head in a hurry, or point out a likely hole to the dogs.
— from Studies in the Art of Rat-catching by Henry C. Barkley - And mump you of your mistress too, young Spaniard.
— from William Wycherley [Four Plays] by William Wycherley
