Obs. exc. dial. Also bumb. [Var. of BOOM v.1; of echoic origin.]
1. intr. To hum loudly; to boom.
c. 1450. Chaucer, Wyf Bathes T., 116 (Camb. MS.). As a bitore bumbith [v.r. bombleth] in þe myre.
1499. Promp. Parv., 55. Bummyn or bumbyn [v.r. bombon], bombizo.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. ix. 191. The Wasp and Hornet Bumbeth.
1722. Hamilton, Wallace, x. 253 (Jam.). English men bum there [Stirling] as thick as bees.
1785. Burns, To W. Simpson. Let the busy, grumbling hive Bum owre their treasure.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., x. You shall hear the bittern bumb.
1864. Tennyson, North. Farmer, 18. I …’eerd un a bummin’ awaäy loike a buzzard-clock.
Mod. Sc. The stones came bumming past my head.
2. trans. Sc. a. To throw or hurl a missile with vibrating or booming effect, as ‘to bum stones at anything.’ b. To pelt with missiles, as ‘to bum one with stones.’ Cf. also ‘bumb sb., the game of bandy’ (Halliwell).
