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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WHUM, n., v. Also whome, home. Dim. and freq. form whummle. [ʍʌm, ʍom, hom]

I. n. 1. A small top put on a stack, a temporary covering of sheaves to keep out rain put on a stack when work is finished for the night (Ork. 1929 Marw., whum(mle), home, Ork.1 1943, home).

2. A half-built stack (Marw., whome).

II. v. To round off the top of a stack by the method described in I. 1. (Ork.1 1943 home, Ork. 1974). Freq. form whummle, phs. conflated with Whummle.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He was whumman hid up for the night. Whummle hid in noo as fast as thoo can, for hid's high enough.

[Norw. dial. kvelm, a truss of hay, which fills a space in a drying frame, Sw. valm, a small haycock, ultimately of same orig. as Whummle (see s.v. I. 4., 5.).]

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