Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1768-1836, 1927, 1997
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RUMGUMPTION, n. Common sense, understanding, shrewdness, acumen (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; I. and n.Sc., Per., Ayr., Wgt. 1968). Cf. Rummlegumption. Also rummygumption, id. (Cai.9 1946).ne.Sc. 1768 in A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 7:
They need not try thy jokes to fathom, They want rumgumption.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 321:
But sure it wad be gryte presumption, In ane wha has sae sma' rumgumption.Abd. 1836 J. Grant Tales of Glens 62:
Charlie had aften shewn mair rumgumption about these matters than mysel.Kcd. 1800 W. Gairdner Glengoyne I. iv.:
His faither wud mak' a minister o' him, 'cause, he said, he hadna rumgumption for a fairmer or a cowper.Ork. 1927 Peace's Almanac 135:
Hae a peerie air o' rumgumption, lass.m.Sc. 1997 Tom Watson Dark Whistle 54:
His lineage hings
Aff breist-bane rid,
His neb an' claws
Wi' ran-dan bluid aye clagged,
Yet wi' rumgumption
Tholes yon coinage o'
Bad cess, the cleck
Ablow.
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"Rumgumption n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rumgumption>
