▪ I. † bombase, v. Obs.
Also 6 bum-, boombas; pa. pple. bombast.
[f. bombace n.: stress orig. on the last, and afterwards on the first syllable.]
1. trans. To stuff with cotton-wool; to pad.
| 1558 Will of R. Lee (Somerset Ho.), My doublett of sacke clothe that is bumbased. 1598 Florio, Imbottire..to stuffe, to quilt, to bumbase. |
b. fig. and transf. To stuff, pad.
| 1572 Gascoigne Voy. Holland in Southey Comm.-pl. Bk. Ser. ii. (1849) 311 They march bumbast with buttered beer. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb., The camel..is bumbast upon the backe for bearing of burdens. |
2. To stop (the ears) as with cotton-wool.
| 1583 Stanyhurst æneid iv. 107 What reason him leadeth to my suite too boombas his hearing? |
▪ II. bombase
variant of bombace n.
▪ III. bombase, -baze
variants of bumbaze.