bum

Etymology 1

Attested since the 1300s, as Middle English bom (found in John Trevisa's 1387 Translation of the 'Polychronicon' of Ranulph Higden, "his bom is oute"), of uncertain origin. Sometimes suggested to be a shortening of botme, botom, bottum (“bottom”), but this is contradicted by the fact that bottom is not attested in reference to the buttocks until the late 1700s. Suggested by some old and modern references to be onomatopoeic. Compare also Old Irish, Scottish Gaelic bun (“base, bottom”).

noun

1. (informal or childish, chiefly Commonwealth) The buttocks.
   Okay, everyone sit on your bum and try and touch your toes.
   For quotations using this term, see Citations:bum.
2. (informal or childish, chiefly Commonwealth) The anus.
   John said that when he was little he stuck his finger in his bum and tasted his poopies and it was good. 2013, Steven L. Ablon, Daniel P. Brown, Edward J. Khantzian, Human Feelings: Explorations in Affect Development and Meaning, page 132
   What could the man possibly be hiding up his bum anyway? 2015, Jonathan Nicholas, Who'd be a copper?: Thirty years a frontline British cop
   Do you have intercourse (i.e., Do you penetrate your partner in the vagina or anus [bum]? Or does your partner penetrate your vagina or anus [bum])? 2016, Lisa Keenan-Lindsay, Cheryl Sams, Constance L. O'Connor, Maternal Child Nursing Care in Canada, page 118
   […] and said Daddy had put a finger up her bum. 2017, Jean Renvoize, Innocence Destroyed: A Study of Child Sexual Abuse

verb

1. (UK, transitive, colloquial) To sodomize; to engage in anal sex.

intj

1. (UK, childish, euphemistic) An expression of annoyance.
   Maxine tried hers. 'Oh bum,' she said crossly. 'The sugar isn't sugar. It's salt.' 2010, Jill Mansell, Sheer Mischief

Etymology 2

1864, back-formation from bummer, from German Bummler (“loafer”), from bummeln (“to loaf”).

noun

1. (colloquial, derogatory) A homeless person, usually a man.
2. (colloquial, derogatory) A lazy, incompetent, or annoying person, usually a man.
   Fred is becoming a bum - he's not even bothering to work more than once a month.
   That mechanic's a bum - he couldn't fix a yo-yo.
   That guy keeps interrupting the concert. Throw the bum out!
   You're a bum / You're a punk / You're an old slut on junk / Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed 1987, “Fairytale of New York”, performed by The Pogues
   Man who do you just think you are? / A silly bum with seven stars 1988, Michael Weikath (lyrics and music), “Keeper of the Seven Keys”, in Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II, performed by Helloween
3. (colloquial, sports) A player or racer who often performs poorly.
   Trade him to another team, he's a bum!
   Seabiscuit, wrote another reporter, “was a hero in California and a pretty fair sort of horse in the midwest. In the east, however, he was just a ‘bumʼ” 2001, Laura Hillenbrand, Seabiscuit: An American Legend
4. (colloquial) A drinking spree.

verb

1. (transitive, colloquial) To ask someone to give one (something) for free; to beg for something.
   Can I bum a cigarette off you?
2. (intransitive, colloquial) To stay idle and unproductive, like a hobo or vagabond.
   I think I'll just bum around downtown for awhile until dinner.
3. (transitive, slang, Britain) To wet the end of a marijuana cigarette (spliff).

adj

1. (slang) Of poor quality or highly undesirable.
   bum note
2. (slang) Unfair.
   a bum deal
3. (slang) Injured and without the possibility of full repair, defective.
   I can't play football anymore on account of my bum knee.
4. (slang) Unpleasant or unhappy.
   He had a bum trip on that mescaline.

Etymology 3

Back-formation from bum out.

verb

1. To depress; to make unhappy.

Etymology 4

See boom.

noun

1. (dated) A humming noise.

verb

1. (intransitive) To make a murmuring or humming sound.
   English men bum there [Stirling] as thick as bees. 1722, William Hamilton, The Wallace

Etymology 5

Abbreviation.

noun

1. (obsolete) A bumbailiff.
   About her Chariot, and behind, / Were Sergeants, Bums of every kind, / Tip-staffs, and all those Officers, / That squeeze a Living out of Tears. 1705, Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees