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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1812

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HUM, v.2 ? To lop, take the head off.m.Lth. 1812 P. Forbes Poems 33:
The guillotine, wi' weight o' lead, An' edge as sharp's a lance, Humm'd him yon day.

[Orig. doubtful. Phs. a back-formation from Hummel, v. but may be a usage of slang Eng. hum, to hoax, take in, sc. “do for”.]

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"Hum v.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hum_v2>

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