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, v., intr. & tr. Also gumph. To search for with the hands, to grope, esp. to grope for fish under banks or stones, to catch fish by groping, to Guddle (Peb. 1910 per Ayr.1; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein, Rxb. 1942 Zai, gump(h); m.Lth., Bwk., s.Sc. 1955). [gʌmp, gʌmf]Rxb. 1811 A. Scott Poems 113:
Whan I to ope the seal had gumpit For vera joy the board I thumpit.Slk. 1818 Hogg Wool-gatherer (1874) 75:
A day's sport at the fishing . . . gumphing or guddling the trouts among the links of the Todburn-Hope.Bwk. c.1830 in Minstrelsy Merse (Crockett 1893) 169:
Ye never gumpt in a burn for troot, Or fand a young peasweep.Edb. 1856 J. Ballantine Poems 13:
In the wee gushing burn . . . Whaur bluff callants gump out the red freckled trout.Ags. 1897 Bards Ags. & Mearns (Reid) 162:
See yon ane lyin' on the bank, He's trying troots tae gump.Bwk. 1902 A. Thomson Lauder 292:
“Guddling” in the Burn is fascinating sport for boys. Experience has taught them to deem it a gentle art, for they gump in silence.
Hence gump-net, “a conical net on two poles for catching fish under hags” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Add.).
[Orig. somewhat uncertain but phs. a variant form of Gamp, with extended meaning, sc. from the opening and closing of the fingers in the process.]
