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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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RUMPLE, n. Also rumpell (Fif. 1703 E. Henderson Annals Dunfermline (1879) 374). [rʌmpl]

1. Of an animal: the rump, tail, haunches (Sh., Cai. 1968). Also attrib. Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1703 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 319:
For a rumple peice of beif . . . 10s.Fif. 1718 Burgess Ticket Buckhaven 2:
[He] gave in his great Solemn Oath upon a Skate Rumple.Sc. 1736 Ramsay Proverbs (1777) 84:
Ye ride sae near the rumple ye'll let nane lowp on behind you.Rxb. 1755 Caled. Mercury (15 May):
The Grey Mare stands a little on the lyert or glead Colour, a little high on the Rumple where the Seat lies.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 61:
Some [cattle] . . . rub their yeuky rumples on the turf.Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 189:
Nae mair the Nine I will invoke, On Pegasus' lean rumple cock.Abd. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads I. 259:
He rade on the rumple, wi' the tail in his hand.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (30 April):
Black wi' a white bit apo' da rumple.

2. Of a person: the buttocks, the posterior, the seat (Sh. 1968).Sc. 1722 W. Hamilton Wallace iii. i.:
Syn at the Lown a fearfull Fleg let flee, That from his Rumple shear'd away his Thigh.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) I. 87:
Badly arm'd, as you may ken; . . . Old scythes, with their rumples even.Abd., Fif. 1825 Jam., s.v. Reekim:
I'll gar your rumple reek, i.e. "I will dust your coat for you."Nai. 1828 W. Gordon Poems 217:
Maggie tumbling on a heckle Dabb'd her rumple to the bane.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shep.Cal. (1874) ii.:
A stiff lounder across the rumple.Abd. 1845 P. Still Cottar's Sunday 79:
While ower his [Satan's] rumple large an' lang The conquer'd hero's carcase hang.Sc. 1895 R. Ford Thistledown 3:
Rax a rung frae the boggars o' the hoose and reeshil his rumple wi't.

Combs. and phr.: (1) rumple-bane, the rump-bone, the coccyx (Sc. 1825 Jam.; I.Sc., Cai., Ayr., Rxb. 1968); (2) rumple-fyke, an itch in the bottom; fig. sexual appetite; (3) rumple-knot, see quot.; (4) rumple-ready, sexually amenable, of easy virtue (Mry.¹ 1925, Mry. 1968); (5) rumple-routie, a jingling formation in a child's riddle, = 2.; (6) to cut its rumple, to cut (a matter) short.(1) Sc. 1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs II. 229:
She's fa'n o'er the buffet-stool And brake her rumple-bane.Ayr. 1834 Galt Liter. Life III. 36:
Bauldy was fashed with the lumbagos in his rumple bone.Abd. 1918 J. Mitchell Bydand 17:
Jock's heid wis hard's a stane An' teuch's an aul' steer's rumple-bane.Edb. 1935:
The fag-end of an Edinburgh street-child's rhyme ran: — "And if we meet the pollisman We'll brak his rumple-bane."(2) Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 91:
Sue Cumberlaw an' Helen Don Fell, belly-flaught, on Doctor John Wha cur'd the rumple-fyke, man.(3) Edb. 1825 R. Chambers Traditions II. 59:
The Rumple-Knot was a large bunch of ribbons worn at the peak of the waist behind.(5) Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 157:
I sat upon my houtie croutie, I lookit ower my rumple routie.(6) Dmb. 1817 J. Walker Poems 98:
Till tir'd thro' many a loop an' wimple, They quat the plea, or cut its rumple.

¶3. Nonce usage: the Rump Parliament of 1648–1660.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. ii. i.:
Monk . . . plaid the Rumple a right slee begunk.