Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1842-1991
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GUMPH, n.1, v. Also gump. Dim. gumphie, -y.
I. n. 1. A fool, a stupid person (Ags. 1808 Jam., gumphie; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 71; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Kcb.8 1930; n.Sc., Ags., Fif., m.Lth., Ayr., Rxb. gumph(ie), Uls. 1955); "a term most generally applied to a female" (Fif. 1825 Jam., gump). Also in Eng. and U.S. dial.Ayr. a.1878 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage (1892) 191:
Like some great gumphy o' a fule Wha sticks his carritches at schule.Uls. 1927 St J. G. Ervine Wayward Man 11:
You great, big gumph! And you that's afeard of a bull want to marry a wife!Bwk. 1948 A. Hepple House of Gow xv.:
The poor gump — as Wolsey called him in deep sympathy.
Hence gumphish, gumphieleerie, adj., silly, imbecile.Edb. 1842 Robinson's Comic Songster 8:
He's just your gumphish Fool, Robie Up, an' rin awa', Robie.Per. 1900 E.D.D.:
"He's not all there, is he?" "O na; he's a wee gumphieleerie."
2. In pl.: the sulks (Fif. 1955), in phr. to tak the gumps, to take a fit of ill-humour, to become sulky (Fif. 1825 Jam., Fif. 1955); in sing., a complaint, moan (Ags., Ayr., Dmf. 2000s).Gsw. 1991:
Wis that a gumph?
II. v. 1. To make a fool of (someone), to baffle, defeat, get the better of (Abd. 1825 Jam.).
2. "To go about in a stupid state" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff., Add. 225); "to be in the sulks" (Bnff. 1880 Jam.); Dmf. 2000s.Gsw. 1991:
Who are you gumphin at?
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"Gumph n.1, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gumph_n1_v>
