Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 7 clums, clumps(e, 8 dial. clomps, 9 dial. clumps. [Related to CLUMSE v., although the actual nature of the relation is not clear. Kindred words appear in mod. Scandinavian: cf. Icel. klumsa, klumsi, lock-jawed, speechless, Sw. dial. klumsen adj. benumbed with cold, clemmed with hunger, dazed, klumsi(g), in S. Sweden, benumbed with cold, clumsy, klumshändt, numbed in the hands; also klums sb., a numbskull.
The localization of the word in England agrees with a Norse origin.]
Benumbed with cold; hence, stupid, dull, stolid of mind; inept of hands, unhandy, unready, idle, lazy; in mod. dial., also, gruff, surly (cf. an ‘awkward’ customer).
1611. Cotgr., Entombi, stonied, benummed, clumpse, asleepe.
1647. H. More, Cupid’s Conflict, lxi. How clums and cold The vulgar wight would be to yield what’s right.
1671. Skinner, Clumps, ignavus, ineptus: vox agro Linc. usitatissima.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, s.v. Clumps, idle, lazy, unhandy, ineptus, a word of common use in Lincolnshire.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., II. 86. He didn’t tell me, and he’s a clumps man, I should ha’ been scarred to ax him.
1886. S. W. Lincolnsh. Words, Clumps, idle, lazy.
(as sb.) 1730–6. Bailey (folio), Clumps, a numpskull, one void of common sense.
