bum English · revision 39730

+ English has two main words spelled ''bum'': the buttocks, of unknown origin, and the American word for a tramp or loafer, probably from ''bummer''.^(Ayto 2005)^(Cresswell 2021)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bʌm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|buttocks}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=a1387, J. Trevisa}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The buttocks is [[inh|enm|bom]], of uncertain origin.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) The OED suggests that it may be imitative or expressive, comparing other words of similar sound that mean a rounded swelling, such as [[bump]];^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) Cresswell also notes the many words for roundness that begin with the same sound.^(Cresswell 2021) The OED rejects the idea that it is a reduced form of [[bottom]], on phonological and chronological grounds.^(OED 2026) Barnhart suggests [[dum|bonne|t=bung]],^(Barnhart 1995) and Johnson (1755) gave [[m|nl|bomme]] as its source.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A person's buttocks: a1387, in John Trevisa's translation of Higden's ''Polychronicon'', in a passage on piles.^(OED 2026)^(Ayto 2005)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Until around the 18th century ''bum'' was not a rude word: Shakespeare used it, and a surgical treatise could speak of the bums of hens.^(Cresswell 2021) Johnson (1755) defined it plainly as "the part on which we sit".^(Johnson 1755) A bailiff who made arrests was called a ''bum'' (1659) or ''bum-bailiff'', so called because he came up behind the debtor;^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)^(GDoS) in Scots ''bum'' was used of a lazy, dirty person from 1540.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) The word is now chiefly British informal,^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023) with the interjection ''bum!'' recorded from 1912^(OED 2026) and ''bums on seats'', paying spectators, from 1973.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a1387 – the buttocks.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1540 – (Scots) a lazy, dirty person.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1588 – verb, to make something bulge out (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1659 – a bailiff.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1912 – interjection, expressing annoyance.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1949 – the seat of a pair of trousers.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1973 – ''bums on seats''.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # (chiefly British, informal) The [[buttocks]]; the [[bottom]]: ''He sat on his bum on the wet grass.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (historical) A [[bailiff]]; a bum-bailiff.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bumbag]]

+ * [[bum-bailiff]]

+ * [[bumf]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|tramp, loafer}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=back-formation|attested=1857, verb; 1864, noun|origins=de bummeln}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The tramp is probably shortened, [[der|en|bummer|t=loafer, idle person]] (1855),^(MWU 2024)^(AHD 2024)^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) which is apparently [[der|de|Bummler|t=vagrant, idler]],^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Ayto 2005) from [[m|de|bummeln|t=to loaf, saunter]].^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Ayto 2005) The verb is apparently a back-formation from ''bummer'', and the OED takes the noun from the verb.^(OED 2026) The earliest uses are in the speech of German immigrants in the United States, and ''bummer'' was common in the Union army in the Civil War.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart thinks the earlier Scots ''bum'', a lazy dirty person, may have fused with it,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) which would explain why the verb and adjective are recorded before the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To loaf, to pass one's time idly: 1857;^(OED 2026) the noun, a homeless person who lives by begging, 1864, in the ''Gold Hill News'' of Nevada.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The adjective, of poor quality, is dated 1859 by Barnhart and Merriam-Webster,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) 1878 by the OED.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the American Civil War a ''bummer'' was a straggler or a soldier who left the ranks to forage and plunder.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) The verb soon meant to beg or cadge (1863), as in ''bum a ride'',^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) and to travel as a tramp, or without paying a fare (1877).^(OED 2026) The noun came to mean any worthless or lazy person (1882),^(OED 2026) and later someone devoted to a pastime, as in ''ski bum'' or ''beach bum''.^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023) The adjective ''bum'', bad or inferior, gave ''bum steer'', bad advice (1901),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and ''bum rap''.^(OED 2026) The verb ''bum (out)'', to disappoint or depress, dates from about 1970,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) after ''bummer'' "a bad experience" (1967).^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1855 – ''bummer'', a loafer.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1857 – verb, to loaf.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1863 – verb, to beg, cadge.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1864 – noun, a tramp or vagrant.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1878 – adjective, of poor quality.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1882 – a worthless person.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1901 – ''bum steer''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1970 – verb, to depress, disappoint.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # (chiefly North America) A [[tramp]] or [[vagrant]]; a homeless person who begs.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (chiefly North America) A lazy or worthless person; a [[loafer]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (informal) A person who spends much time on a pastime: ''a surf bum''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # (informal) To get by begging; to [[cadge]]: ''Can I bum a pen off you?''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (informal) To spend time idly, or travel around without a plan; often with ''around''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (informal, chiefly North America) To make someone feel disappointed or depressed; usually with ''out''.^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # (informal) Of poor quality; bad or wrong: ''a bum deal''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # (informal, chiefly North America) Of a part of the body, injured or not working properly.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bummer]]

+ * [[bum steer]]

+ * [[bum rap]]

+ * [[bum's rush]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bump]]

+ * [[bottom]]

+ * [[tramp]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Several other words of this spelling are rare or dialectal: the Scots verb ''bum'', to hum or drone (15th century), imitative like [[boom]],^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)^(OED 2026) and an obsolete verb ''bum'', to beat or thump (1581).^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}