▪ I. mumping, vbl. n.1 Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈmʌmpɪŋ)
[f. mump v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of grimacing.
| 1611 Cotgr., Minauderies, foolish trickes, apish pranks, mumpings, mowings. 1721 Kelly Scot. Prov. 183, I know your meaning, by your mumping. a 1734 North Exam. i. iii §46 We are to understand his Meaning by his Mumping. |
▪ II. ˈmumping, vbl. n.2
[f. mump v.2 + -ing1.]
Begging. mumping-day (see quot. 1817).
| 1694 Motteux Rabelais iv. xiii, He spyed Tickletoby afar off, coming home from mumping. 1816 Dunkin Hist. Bicester 270 The..singular custom..on the morrow after Christmas-day,..usually denominated Mumping. 1817 Fosbroke Brit. Monachism 74 St. Thomas's Day. On this day, called Mumping-day, the poor in Herefordshire go around the parishes, begging corn, &c. |
Add: 2. The action or practice by the police of accepting small gifts or bribes, such as free meals, cheap goods, etc., from tradespeople. slang.
| 1970 P. Laurie Scotland Yard x. 248 ‘Mumping’ is as old as policing. It has its pros and cons—one can look at it as a small tax. 1977 New Society 17 Feb. 328/2 Forms of corruption [of the police]..‘mumping’ (‘mooching’ in the U.S.)—accepting free meals and drinks or goods and services at a discount. 1984 J. P. Bean in Police Rev. 18 May 975/2 Nipping, demanding with menaces... One step above ‘mumping’—begging without the threats. |
▪ III. mumping, ppl. a.1
(ˈmʌmpɪŋ)
[f. mump v.1 + -ing2.]
In senses of the verb: † Mumbling, toothless (obs.); grimacing, assuming a demure, sanctimonious, or miserable aspect of countenance.
| 1594 Nashe Terrors of Night Wks. (Grosart) III. 255 Aged mumping beldams. 1611 Cotgr., Morgue,..the mumping aspect of one that would seeme grauer then he is. a 1720 Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) I. 78 Puss transform'd, sat like a mumping bride. 1797 Burke Regic. Peace iii. Wks. VIII. 274 Our embassy ‘of shreds and patches’ with all its mumping cant. 1820 Lamb Elia i. Two Races of Men, To say no to a poor petitionary rogue (your bastard borrower) who, by his mumping visnomy, tells you, that he expects nothing better. 1826 Hood Last Man 109 But the beggar man made a mumping face, And knocked at every gate. 1869 Lowell Cathedral 647 Superannuate forms and mumping shams. |
▪ IV. ˈmumping, ppl. a.2
[f. mump v.2 + -ing2.]
Begging.
| 1829 Lytton Disowned 8 And wherever we rove, we feed on the cove Who gibes at the mumping crew. 1883 G. A. Sala in Illustr. Lond. News 17 Nov. 475/3 Although the tramp when hard pressed solicits alms or food, he is not a ‘mumping’ or professional beggar. |