▪ I. umph, int.
((ə)mh)
Also 6 vmff.
[Imitative: cf. humph and umh.]
An inarticulate sound, expressive of hesitation, doubt, or dissatisfaction.
| a 1568 in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club) 461/21 Vmff, quod the Helandman, and swere be yon kirk [etc.]. |
| 1782 F. Burney Cecilia iv. vi, He only looked at her, and said ‘umph?’ Ibid. vii. ix, I really believe the gentle⁓man's deaf! he won't so much as say umph and hay, now. 1800 E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. II. 119 ‘Umph!’ thought Emma, ‘is he abusing the Turk now by way of a blind?’ 1822 Scott Nigel v, ‘Umph!’ repeated Master George,..‘what does umph mean?’ 1826 ― Woodst. iii, Commands—umph—I think the damsel might have tarried. 1894 A. Gordon Northward Ho 87 An occasional ‘Oich! Oich!’ from John, and a sympathetic ‘Umph! Umph!’ from Eppie. |
Hence umph v. intr., to ejaculate ‘umph’.
| 1894 Hall Caine Manxman i. x. 48 Cæsar umpht and grunted. 1900 Daily News 30 June 4/1 ‘Umph,’ replied Mr. Rhodes, in his grim, gruff way, ‘Umph!’ and he went away umphing. |
▪ II. umph
var. oomph.