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.
Quotation dates: 1794-1795, 1902-1916
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HUMPH, n.3 A name given to poor quality coal (Lnk. 1821 Gsw. Burgh Rec. 644; w.Sc. 1825 Jam.). Also used attrib. Hence comb. humphed coal, “coal altered by contact with whin; inferior coal” (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 38).Cld. 1794 J. Naismith Agric. Cld. 36:
About 13 or 14 fathoms lower, lies the humph coal. It consists of yolk and rock coal, with a thin parting of splint.Ayr. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 VII. 14:
The whole coal . . . becomes very much troubled, and turns into what they call humph, a black useless substance.Lnk. 1902 R. W. Dron Coal-Fields Scot. 93:
The Humph Coal has been worked at Govan and Stonelaw, and also at Rawyards and Airdrie.Lnk. 1916 Econ. Geol. Cent. Coalfield Scot. V. 60:
The Humph Coal is often too poor to be worked.
