▪ I. ˈbumming, ppl. a.
[f. bum v.2 + -ing2.]
a. Buzzing, humming. b. † bumming sound (obs.): Something of note, or worth listening to.
| 1599 Marston Sco. Villanie i. iv. 188 Hath rak't together some four thousand pound, To make his smug gurle beare a bumming sound In a young merchants eare. 1616 Pasquil & Kath. iii. 182 A thousand pound a yeere! B'ar Ladie, that's a bumming sound. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 131 Bumming gad-flies ceased to tease. |
▪ II. ˈbumming, vbl. n. U.S. slang.
The action of bum v.6
| 1857 San Francisco Call 9 Jan. 1/2 The ‘Bumming and Gassing Company’ were out in full strength, the novelty of labor being a new experience in their existence. 1860 Yale Lit. Mag. XXV. 398 (Th.), Another great sham connected with our social life is that of spreeing or ‘bumming’. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift Amer. 66 The idea of begging or ‘bumming’ as it is popularly called out there, went strongly against my stomach. |