subs. (vulgar).—1.  The posteriors; or (JAMIESON) ‘the part on which we sit.’ MURRAY: the guess that BUM is an abbreviation of ‘bottom’ is at variance with the historical fact, that the latter, in this sense, is found only from the eighteenth century; besides which there are phonetic difficulties. The origin is probably onamatopoetic. Also BUMKIN. Hence to toe one’s bum = to put or ‘chuck’ out; to show the door to: also TO HOOF ONE’S BUM.

1

  1387.  TREVISA, Higden Rolls, 6, 357. It semeth that his BOM is oute that hath that euel [ficus, i.e., piles].

2

  1592.  SHAKESPEARE, Midsummer Night’s Dream, ii. 1. 51.

        The wisest aunt telling the saddest tale,
Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me;
Then slip I from her BUM, down topples she.

3

  1600.  DEKKER, The Shoemaker’s Holiday, in Wks. (1873) i., 39. Art thou acquainted with neuer a Fardingale-maker, nor a French-hood maker, I must enlarge my BUMME.

4

  1609.  SHAKESPEARE, Timon of Athens, i. 2. What a coil’s here! Serving of becks, and jutting out of BUMS!

5

  1614.  JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, iv., 4. Your breeches sit close enough to your BUM.

6

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BUM, … also one’s Breech.

7

  1706.  WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, VI. 10.

        Thought I, for all your pulpit-drumming,
Had you no Hose to hide your BUM in.

8

  1729.  SWIFT, Intelligencer, 8, 83 (2 ed.).

        And first his BUM you see him clap
Upon the Queen of Sheba’s lap.

9

  1742.  SHENSTONE, The Schoolmistress, 18.

        All, but the wight of BUM y-galled, he
Abhors both bench, and stool, and fourm, and chair.

10

  1782.  WOLCOT (‘Peter Pindar’), Lyric Odes, i., in Wks. (1809) i., 12.

        That easy BUM-delighting thing,
Rid by the Chancellor.

11

  Verb. (venery).—(a) To copulate: see GREENS and RIDE; (b) TO BUGGER (q.v.). Also TO GO BUM-FIGHTING, BUM-WORKING, BUM-TICKLING or BUM-FAKING; TO DO (or HAVE) A BIT OF BUM (or BUM-DANCING); TO BUM-BOARD, and TO BUM-FIDDLE.

12

  2.  See BUM-BAILIFF (or -BAILLIE).

13

  3.  (public schools’).—A birching; a HIDING (q.v.); a TANNING (q.v.).

14

  Verb. See BUM-BAILIFF.

15

  CHERRY BUMS subs. (military).—The 11th Hussars: the obvious reference is to the scarlet trowsers: a similar nickname is given to the French Chasseurs—Culs rouges.

16

  TO SAY NEITHER BA NOR BUM, subs. phr. (old).—To say not a word.

17