Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HUM-DRUM, adj., n. Also hum-jum and shortened form hum.
I. adj. 1. Dejected, in low spirits; out of humour, sullen (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis Add. s.v. dram; Cai., em.Sc., Lnk., Kcb., Slk. 1957).Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 115:
Or saw ye e'er a tear rin frae my e'e? Or wantin plaid, or bonnet leukit hum?Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd 10:
Is there onything vrang . . . that ye're looking sae hum-drum like, Meggie?Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 18:
A heh thae thochts ti faa back on . . . whan A turn dowie an hum-jum.
2. Of workmanship, crops, etc.: of poor quality, second rate (m.Lth.1 1957).
II. n. 1. An apathetic, lazy-minded person (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 277; ‡Kcb. 1957), a pompously solemn fellow.Rnf. 1852 J. Mitchell Grey Goose Quill 13:
See yon hum-drum, wha struts alang As bluffly as he ne'er had been The heddles an' the pirns amang, Nor “toom meal-pock” had ever seen.
†2. In pl.: fits of dejection or melancholy.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 131:
Then, ilka Wanter wale a Wife, E're Eild and Humdrums seize ye.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 97:
His father says, “Lay by, man, thir hum drums, An' look na mair like Watty to the worm.”
