Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GUMP, n.2 1. The whole of anything (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 245); “a large piece or portion” (Gall. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.); specif. in lead-mining: a pocket of lead (Kcb. 1897 66th Report Brit. Ass. V. 488). Dim. gumpin(g), a piece cut off the gump (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 245), esp. in phr. to cut the gumpin(g), a term used in Kemping, see quots.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 245:
When a shift o' riggs [during reaping] takes place, those forward cut through their weak neighbours rigg, behind, duly opposite the place they left their own, so leave a part of that rigg uncut, between them and the weak reaper; this piece is called the gumping. Two cronnies, or a lad and lass in love, never cut the gumping on one another, the cause for why, needs no explanation.Gall. 1931 Weekly Scotsman (5 Sept.):
“Cutting the gumpin” was another contest of the harvest field, and the aim of the reaper was to get so far ahead of his rival that he would be able to cut across his rig.
2. A plump, rather overgrown child (Ags., Fif. 1825 Jam.); in pl.: a term applied to a small stout woman (Mry.1 1925).
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"Gump n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gump_n2>
