Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HUMPH, n.², v.² Also humf.

I. n. An offensive smell of decaying matter, a stench (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 84; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Mry.¹ 1925; Cai., Abd., em.Sc., Lnk. 1957); a “high” flavour, putrescent taste (Gregor; Watson). Hence adjs. humphy (Watson, Rxb. 1942 Zai; Per. 1957), humfy-tasted (Mry.¹ 1925), humpty.Ags. 1820 Montrose Chron. (22 Dec.) 463:
A taste which is so truly corbie, that it cries humph to nothing, however deep the mark of other vermin in the dish.Abd. 1902 E.D.D.:
That's a fine tea, but hasna't a humph o' burnt heather?Fif. 1916 G. Blaik Rustic Rhymes 203:
An' kept the pork among saut brine, That it micht no' gang humphy.Sc. 1924 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 56:
The aits wis fooshtet an' the meal has a nip an' a humf.Edb. 1992:
Pit yer shuin oan-yer feet are humpty.

II. v. 1. intr. To have or acquire a smell or taste of decay (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Abd., Per., m.Lth. 1957). Gen. as ppl.adj. humphed, stinking, putrid (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 278; Sc. 1825 Jam.; Watson; Wettstein; Per., Fif., m.Lth. 1957).Gsw. 1797 J. Strang Gsw. Clubs (1856) 581:
The few public-houses scattered along the roadside were relieved on that memorable day of all their stale beer, sour porter, and humphed ham.Ags. 1820 Montrose Chron. (22 Dec.) 463:
I confess that there is a corrupted taste in mentals as well as materials, which relishes most the food which is humphed.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man III. 283:
I wish he had fawn aff the tap o' his humphed ill-smelled hides.Slk. 1875 Border Treasury (13 Feb.) 334:
Ye've surely looten the meat humf.Edb. 1882 J. Smith Canty Jock 67:
It never appeared to be fresh, a kind o' “humphed”.

†2. To sniff as if to locate a bad smell (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 84).