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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RUMMLE-GUMPTION, n. Also rumel-, rummal- (Sc. 1825 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 71), -el-, -il, rum(m)le-, rumul-, rumble- (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 208); -gum(p)sh(i)on, -gumshan, -gum(ph)tion; ¶-gulshion. [rʌməl ′gʌm(p)ʃən]

1. With semantic stress on gumption: (1) understanding, common-sense, levelheadedness (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 262; n. and m.Sc. 1968). Also in n.Eng. dial. Cf. Rumgumption.Sc. 1751 Letter in Atholl MSS:
A good deal of rumulgumtion, attended with a Spice of Libertanism of all kinds.Ayr. 1787 Burns Letters (Ferguson)No.112:
As muckle smeddum and rumblegumtion as the half o' some Presbytries.Per. c.1800 Lady Nairne Songs (1905) 231:
Nae rummelgumshion folk now hae.Slk. 1822 Hogg Siege Rxb. (1874) 622:
Ye sude hae staid at hame an' wantit a wife till ye gathered mair rumelgumption.Fif. 1844 J. Jack St Monance 19:
But for the smeddum an' rummel-gumtion o' a fisher.e.Lth. 1885 S. Mucklebackit Rural Rhymes 228:
Half-frightened out of his “rumblegumption”, as he styles his wits.Per. 1904 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Stories 104:
The feck o' a' the wrack an' ruin o' married life, may be traced to the want o' rummelgumption in the maitter o' selection.Kcb. 1911 G. M. Gordon Auld Clay Biggin' 2:
Mair rumblegumption i' ane o' her finger ens nar puir auld Davy wud hae i' his hale body.Ags. 1952 Forfar Dispatch (12 April):
We'd the rummel-gumption tae keep wir traps sneckit.s.Sc. 1979 Lavinia Derwent A Border Bairn (1986) 10:
A clumsy creature with no rummle-gumption. Jessie's word for common sense. She was full of it. Edb. 2004:
That laddie micht be clever but he's juist nae rummle-gumption.

(2) Courage, pluck, spirit (Abd.⁴ 1928, Abd. 1968).

2. With semantic stress on rummle-: (1) a disturbance, commotion, clattering noise.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
There was sic a rummlegumption in the pantry.

(2) used jocularly of wind in the stomach, flatulence, freq. in pl. (wm.Sc., Kcb. 1968).Sc. c.1850 A Few Rare Proverbs:
Ye're baith fash'd wi' the rumelgulsions, the farting fits, and lousy nerves.Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.:
A rummilgumption i' the collie-wobbles.