From Middle English pumpe, possibly from Middle Dutch pompe (“pipe, water conduit”) or Middle Low German pumpe (“pump”), probably ultimately imitative.
Compare Dutch pompen, German pumpen, and Danish pompe; also Spanish bomba (“pump”).
Meanings
A device for moving or compressing a liquid or gas.
This pump can deliver 100 gallons of water per minute.
An instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping.
It takes thirty pumps to get 10 litres; he did 50 pumps of the weights.
A device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, particularly fuel; a gas pump.
Trump thinks: If I can actually end this war and lift sanctions on Russia, Russian oil will swamp the global market, it’ll drive down the price of gasoline at the pump and I will win the midterms. 2025 February 20, Thomas L. Friedman, Patrick Healy, Jillian Weinberger, “Tom Friedman on Just How Far Trump Could Push the World”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
This pump is out of order, but you can gas up at the next one.
A swelling of the muscles caused by increased blood flow following high intensity weightlifting.
Want a skin-stretching pump? Up the volume by using high-rep sets.
A great pump is better than coming. 2010, Eric Velazquez, “Power Pairings” (17::83 from the start), in Reps!, spoken by Arnold Schwarzenegger:
(colloquial) A ride on a bicycle given to a passenger, usually on the handlebars or fender.
She gave the other girl a pump on her new bike.
(US, slang) The heart.
(UK, obsolete, slang, vulgar) The vagina.
Thus to and again to our paſtime we went, / And my Cards I play'd fairly to Jenny's content; / I work'd at her Pump till my Sucker grew dry, / Then I left pumping, a good Reaſon why. 1750, “Ge ho, Dobbin or the Waggoner”, in The Tulip, page 2:
ms pam (device for moving liquid or gas) · mn түгээгүүр (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · bo ཆུ་འཐེན་འཕྲུལ་བྱད (device for moving liquid or gas) · it pompa (device for moving liquid or gas) · cmn 唧筒 (device for moving liquid or gas) · lo ສູບ (device for moving liquid or gas) · nl pomp (device for moving liquid or gas) · pap pòmp (device for moving liquid or gas) · bn পাম্প (device for moving liquid or gas) · ro pompare (instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping) · is dæla (device for moving liquid or gas) · af pomp (device for moving liquid or gas) · be кало́нка (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · sh pompa (device for moving liquid or gas) · el αντλία (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · ko 펌프 (device for moving liquid or gas) · ka ტუმბო (device for moving liquid or gas) · da pumpe (device for moving liquid or gas) · ca manxa (device for moving liquid or gas) · fr pompe (device for moving liquid or gas) · mi papu (device for moving liquid or gas) · bg по́мпа (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · pdt Pomp (device for moving liquid or gas) · el αντλία (device for moving liquid or gas) · th เครื่องสูบ (device for moving liquid or gas) · tk nasos (device for moving liquid or gas) · hu pumpa (device for moving liquid or gas) · tg насос (device for moving liquid or gas) · rad pom (device for moving liquid or gas) · es bomba (device for moving liquid or gas) · ota طولومبه (device for moving liquid or gas) · ky насос (device for moving liquid or gas) · ar ضَخّ (instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping) · th เครื่องสูบลม (device for moving liquid or gas) · acw طرمبة (device for moving liquid or gas) · eo pumpo (instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping) · bg сърце́ (slang: heart) · mt pompa (device for moving liquid or gas) · eo pumpilo (device for moving liquid or gas) · ru коло́нка (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · la antlia (device for moving liquid or gas) · sh пу̑мпа (device for moving liquid or gas) · et pump (device for moving liquid or gas) · de Zapfsäule (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · nb pumpe (device for moving liquid or gas) · sh cȑpka (device for moving liquid or gas) · sh цр̏пка (device for moving liquid or gas) · az طولومبه (device for moving liquid or gas) · fi pumppu (device for moving liquid or gas) · fa-ira تُلُمْبِه (device for moving liquid or gas) · sq pompë (device for moving liquid or gas) · nn pumpe (device for moving liquid or gas) · bg по́мпане (instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping) · lo ກ້ອງສູບ (device for moving liquid or gas) · te పంపు (device for moving liquid or gas) · sh сѝса̄љка (device for moving liquid or gas) · sk čerpadlo (device for moving liquid or gas) · eu ponpa (device for moving liquid or gas) · cmn 加油機 /加油机 (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · tr pompa (device for moving liquid or gas) · tl poso (device for moving liquid or gas) · fi pumppu (slang: heart) · th เครื่องสูบน้ำ (device for moving liquid or gas) · ru насо́с (device for moving liquid or gas) · az nasos (device for moving liquid or gas) · cs pumpa (device for moving liquid or gas) · ro pompă (device for moving liquid or gas) · ca bomba (device for moving liquid or gas) · uk по́мпа (device for moving liquid or gas) · pt bomba (device for moving liquid or gas) · hi पम्प (device for moving liquid or gas) · es surtidor (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · ota پومپا (device for moving liquid or gas) · be насо́с (device for moving liquid or gas) · es bomba (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · sh помпа (device for moving liquid or gas) · pl pompa (device for moving liquid or gas) · id pompa (device for moving liquid or gas) · ro pompă (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · sw pampu (device for moving liquid or gas) · mk пу́мпа (device for moving liquid or gas) · fi pumppu (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · sw pampu (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · ky соркысма (device for moving liquid or gas) · ky соркыскыч (device for moving liquid or gas) · lo ກ້ອງດູດ (device for moving liquid or gas) · fr distributeur (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · sl črpalka (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · es aguatocha (device for moving liquid or gas) · hu szivattyú (device for moving liquid or gas) · ur پَمْپ (device for moving liquid or gas) · sl črpalka (device for moving liquid or gas) · fi pumppaus (in bodybuilding) · fa-ira پُمْپ (device for moving liquid or gas) · ga pumpa (device for moving liquid or gas) · cy pwmp (device for moving liquid or gas) · cs čerpadlo (device for moving liquid or gas) · kk сорғыш (device for moving liquid or gas) · yue 泵 (device for moving liquid or gas) · cmn 泵 (device for moving liquid or gas) · ja 喞筒 (device for moving liquid or gas) · fi ritsi (ride on a bicycle given to a passenger, usually on the handlebars or fender) · ru по́мпа (device for moving liquid or gas) · hi पंप (device for moving liquid or gas) · bg по́мпа (device for moving liquid or gas) · lv sūknis (device for moving liquid or gas) · pt bomba (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · it distributore (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · izh pumppu (device for moving liquid or gas) · kk насос (device for moving liquid or gas) · vi bơm (device for moving liquid or gas) · uz nasos (device for moving liquid or gas) · ja ポンプ (device for moving liquid or gas) · ar مِضَخَّة (device for moving liquid or gas) · es pompa (device for moving liquid or gas) · pt bombeio (instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping) · ru нака́чивание (instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping) · mn насос (device for moving liquid or gas) · apw tu behaiłʼoogi (device for moving liquid or gas) · de Pumpe (slang: heart) · ru памп (in bodybuilding) · bo ཕུ་མདའ (device for moving liquid or gas) · yi פּלומפּ (device for moving liquid or gas) · es bombeo (instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping) · km ស្នប់ (device for moving liquid or gas) · sh pȗmpa (device for moving liquid or gas) · fr pompe (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · uk коло́нка (device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, especially fuel) · lv pumpis (device for moving liquid or gas) · fi kyyti (ride on a bicycle given to a passenger, usually on the handlebars or fender) · kk сорап (device for moving liquid or gas) · sh sìsāljka (device for moving liquid or gas) · be по́мпа (device for moving liquid or gas) · kk сорғы (device for moving liquid or gas) · yi פּאָמפּע (device for moving liquid or gas) · mn хөөрөг (device for moving liquid or gas) · sv pump (device for moving liquid or gas) · ru па́мпинг (in bodybuilding) · he מַשְׁאֵבָה (device for moving liquid or gas) · hy պոմպ (device for moving liquid or gas) · el τρόμπα (device for moving liquid or gas) · mi uatoko (in bodybuilding) · lt pompa (device for moving liquid or gas) · uk насо́с (device for moving liquid or gas) · de Pumpe (device for moving liquid or gas) · fi pumppaus (instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping) · my လေထိုးတံ (device for moving liquid or gas) · mr पंप (device for moving liquid or gas) · fa-ira مَکَنْدِه (device for moving liquid or gas) · gl bomba (device for moving liquid or gas)
From Middle English pumpe, possibly from Middle Dutch pompe (“pipe, water conduit”) or Middle Low German pumpe (“pump”), probably ultimately imitative.
Compare Dutch pompen, German pumpen, and Danish pompe; also Spanish bomba (“pump”).
Meanings
(intransitive, transitive) To use a pump; to move (water or other liquid) by means of a pump.
I've been pumping for over a minute but the water isn't coming through.
With each beat, your heart's left ventricle pumps blood into your arteries, which are all different sizes. 2026, Ginny Graves, “The Most Important Health Metric You're Not Tracking”, in Men's Health, volume 41, number 2, page 19:
I've pumped over 1000 gallons of water in the last ten minutes.
(transitive) To inject or pour (something) into someone or something in a manner similar to a pump.
The underlying cause of the warming is human activities pumping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, scientists say. But the reasons why marine heating is speeding up now are far from clear. 2023 August 7, Clive Cookson, “Missing ice and bleached coral: the sudden warming of the oceans”, in Financial Times:
(obsolete) To put (a person or part of the body) under a stream of water from a pump, as a punishment or as a form of medical treatment; to force a pump of water upon or on someone.
‘So much the worse for him. I've had my eye on him for some time. He shall be prettily pumped upon.’ 1872, George Eliot, Middlemarch, Book IV, chapter 37:
Pump him soundly, impudent Fellow. 1676, Thomas Shadwell, The Virtuoso:
(transitive) To gain something, especially information, from (a person) by persistent questioning.
I had no idea why he wanted to be sociable, but as we chatted in there it suddenly occurred to me the fellow was trying to get at something - in fact, pumping me. 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 214:
But pump not me for politics. 1682, Thomas Otway, Venice Preserv'd:
"Did Dora just offer up that advice, or were you pumping her for information?" "Shoot, I outed my informant. I'm a terrible spy." 2017, Jeph Jacques, Questionable Content (webcomic), Number 3509: Sensitive Information:
Occasionally, I've thought about the positive side of being involved with someone with your privileges. I have thought that it's a relief that your parents have money. In a pinch, if something were to happen, to either one of us, you could pump your parents for money. I hope it never gets to that but it's nice knowing that there's some rich in-laws out there. 1990 February 4, Vanessa Nemeth, Stephanie Poggi, “Bumps And All”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 29, page 12:
(UK, slang, transitive) To have sex with; to sexually penetrate, especially with a thrusting motion.
Pump my tight hole so long and hard that I can't walk or sit when you're done. 1990 December 9, “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 21, page 12:
Thus to and again to our paſtime we went, / And my Cards I play'd fairly to Jenny's content; / I work'd at her Pump till my Sucker grew dry, / Then I left pumping, a good Reaſon why. 1750, “Ge ho, Dobbin or the Waggoner”, in The Tulip, page 2:
(intransitive, transitive) To express milk from (a breast) by means of a breast pump.
(followed by up, often, transitive) To fill with air by means of a pump; to inflate.
He pumped up the air-bed by hand, but used the service station air to pump up the tyres.
(transitive) To move rhythmically, as the motion of a pump.
I pumped my fist with joy when I won the race.
To enlarge the body by means of weightlifting or steroid use.
(transitive) To shake (a person's hand) vigorously.
(US, intransitive, slang) Of music: to be loud, to have strong bass and rhythms; (by extension) to be full of energy.
Last night's party was really pumping.
The waves were really pumping this morning.
To kick, throw, or hit the ball far and high.
Blackburn pumped long balls towards Diouf as they became increasingly desperate to salvage a point, but Wigan held on for a win that may prove crucial in their quest for Premier League survival. 2011 February 5, Michael Da Silva, “Wigan 4 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC:
(UK, slang, vulgar) To pass gas; to fart quietly.
People never pumped, just never never, but sometimes ye got smells. 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 82:
To pass (messages) into a program so that it can obey them.
Sure enough, rather than pumping a message to the Console window, you will now see a message box displaying your message 2006, Andrew Troelsen, Pro C# 2005 and the .NET 2.0 Platform:
The CLR pumps messages automatically during a wait, reducing the likelihood of this but it can show up in native code. 2008, Joe Duffy, Concurrent Programming on Windows:
c. 2012, Microsoft, .NET Framework 4.5 documentation for Marshal.CleanupUnusedObjectsInCurrentContext
The interop system pumps messages while it attempts to clean up RCWs.
(colloquial) To inject silicone into the body in order to try to achieve a fuller or curvier look.
To fire a bullet from a firearm.
As quick as was el adrea, Tarzan of the Apes was quicker, and so the great beast crashed against a tree where he had expected to feel the soft flesh of man, while Tarzan, a couple of paces to the right, pumped another bullet into him that brought him clawing and roaring to his side. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 80:
To load a shell into the chamber of a pump-action shotgun by pumping the mechanism.
He ran on, pumping another round up into his scattergun.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
pumped
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
pumped
Tense=Past
lexicographic
pumps
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
pumping
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
Deriveds
spiral pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · nanopump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump pic (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumpless (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · slider pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumpman (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · breast pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumper (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · stirrup pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · wrecking pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump-prime (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · yabby pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · draught on Aldgate pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumpjack (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · all hands to the pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump escape (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump trolley (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · proton-pump inhibitor (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · roughing pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · handpump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · jockey pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · intuition pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumplike (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · mispump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · plunger pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · Toepler pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumpage (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · air pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump-car (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · biopump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · air-pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · hydropump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump car (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · water pump pliers (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · on pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump iron (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump someone's fist (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump and dump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumpability (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · hand pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · overpump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump out (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump valve (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · door pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · water pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · rope pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · donkey pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · screw pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · Sprengel pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · positive displacement pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · bike pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · thin as a yard of pump water (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · footpump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · message pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · sand pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · electropump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · scavenge pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · osmotic pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · unlimited pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · cock pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pallet pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · minipump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · prime the pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump-jet (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump one's fist (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · bicycle pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · bilge pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · compression pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · a yard of pump water (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · monkey pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump knot (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · hogger pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump drill (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pussy pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump action (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumped (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · stomach pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · lift pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · insulin pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · vacuum pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · picopump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · fist pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumpable (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump-fake (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · happiness pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · chain pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · mud pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · backpump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump one's fists (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump and jump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · under the pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumpgun (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pumphouse (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · forepump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · cryopump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · proton pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump up (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump jockey (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump room (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · proton-pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · ebullating pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump-room (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · heat pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · fist-pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump up someone's tires (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · rough pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · windpump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump house (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · micropump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump someone's tires (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · draught on the pump at Aldgate (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · repump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · force pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump attendant (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · parish pump politics (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · price at the pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · head pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · one-pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · penis pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump organ (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · bull pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump-and-dump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · suction pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump truck (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · sodium-potassium pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · love pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · postpump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · gas pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · parish-pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · sump pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · feed pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · sodium pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump fake (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · body pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · turbine pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · petrol pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · arm pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · fuel pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · turbopump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · proton pump inhibitor (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · one pump chump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · Sahara pump theory (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · pump-trolley (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · circulating pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · drain pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump) · biological pump (Terms derived from the noun or verb pump)
de aufpumpen (to fill with air) · ro pompa (intransitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · tpi pamim (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · de super laufen (slang: to be going very well) · yi פּלומפּן (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · ru кача́ть (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · it pompare (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · sv pumpa (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · ro pompa (to move rhythmically) · es pompear (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · el αντλώ (intransitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · bg напомпвам (to fill with air) · de pumpen (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · yi פּאָמפּעוון (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · nl pompen (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · ru нака́чивать (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · te తోడు (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · ru накача́ть (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · fi tykittää (sports: to kick, throw or hit the ball far and high) · vi bơm (to fill with air) · pt bombear (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · de pumpen (intransitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · vi bơm (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · fi veivata (to shake hands vigorously) · th ปั๊ม (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · pt bombear (to move rhythmically) · es pompar (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · nmn pàmpa (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · nmn pòmpa (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · eo pumpi (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · de insistieren (to gain information by persistent questioning) · mi uatoko (to move rhythmically) · fi vispata (to shake hands vigorously) · el αντλώ (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · bg помпам (intransitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · mi papu (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · gl bombear (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · fi pumpata (to move rhythmically) · es bombear (sports: to kick, throw or hit the ball far and high) · fi pumpata (to fill with air) · mi mapu (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · pt estar bombando (slang: to be going very well) · el αντλώ (to gain information by persistent questioning) · ca bombar (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · de wegdreschen (sports: to kick, throw or hit the ball far and high) · vi đổ (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · cs čerpat (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · fr pomper (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · ar ضَخَّ (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · es bombear (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · de nachhaken (to gain information by persistent questioning) · mi mapumapu (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · ga taosc (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · fi mennä hyvin (slang: to be going very well) · ro pompa (to fill with air) · fi pumpata (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · bg помпам (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · de wie geschmiert laufen (slang: to be going very well) · fi pumpata (to gain information by persistent questioning) · sl črpati (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · fi pumpata (intransitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · ro pompa (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas) · yi פּאָמפּן (transitive: to use a pump to move liquid or gas)
The etymology of the term is unclear and disputed. One possibility is that it comes from pomp (“ornamentation”). Another is that it refers to the sound made by the foot moving inside the shoe when dancing. The Oxford English Dictionary claims that it appeared in the 16th century, and lists its origin as "obscure". It has also been linked to the Dutch pampoesje, possibly borrowed from Javanese pampus, ultimately from Persian پاپوش (pâpuš), borrowed from Arabic بَابُوش (bābūš).
Meanings
(UK) A low-top shoe with a rubber sole and a canvas upper; a low-top canvas sneaker.
(Canada, US) A type of women's shoe which leaves the instep uncovered and has a relatively high heel, especially a stiletto (with a very high and thin heel)
She was wearing a lovely new pair of pumps.
A dancing shoe.
Gabriel's pumps were all unpinkt i' th' heel 1591, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew:
So I laid down my knittin', an' got up, an' stole ovir to the banes, an' nivir believe me iv I didn't see, sittin' right forenint me, in the very middle of thim, a bit of an ould man, not a quarther so big as a new-born child, wid a little cocked hat an his head, an' a dudeen in his mouth, smokin' away; an' a plain, ould-fashioned, dhrab-coloured coat, wid big brass buttons upon it, an his back, an' a pair o' massy silver buckles in his shoes, that a'most covered his feet they war so big, an' he workin' away as hard as ivir he could, heelin' a little pair o' pumps. 1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 378:
Ballerine - or ballet pumps - are the Milanese woman's footwear 'de rigeur', and not just because there are so many cobbled streets to walk over and are therefore infinitely preferable to heels. 2012, Rachael Martin, The Fashion Lover's Guide to Milan: