v. Obs. Also 6 bum-, boombas; pa. pple. bombast. [f. BOMBACE sb.: stress orig. on the last, and afterwards on the first syllable.]
1. trans. To stuff with cotton wool; to pad.
1558. Will of R. Lee (Somerset Ho.). My doublett of sacke clothe that is bumbased.
1598. Florio, Imbottire … to stuffe, to quilt, to bumbase.
b. fig. and transf. To stuff, pad.
1572. Gascoigne, Voy. Holland, in Southey, Comm.-pl. Bk., Ser. II. (1849), 311. They march bumbast with buttered beer.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. The camel … is bumbast upon the backe for bearing of burdens.
2. To stop (the ears) as with cotton-wool.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneid, IV. 107. What reason him leadeth to my suite too boombas his hearing?
