Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
scumber en · NOUN
Etymology
Perhaps Old French escumbrier (“to disencumber”).
Meanings
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(countable, of a person, qualifier:dog or fox, uncountable, usually) Dung; excrement.
Someone shouts something and he turns and shouts back, ‘Just going for a scumber, all right? Back in a moment.
2012, Collins, B. R, The Broken Road, →OCLC:[…]having no regard of me, and never looking upon me but as the scumber of the world.
1848, Steinmetz, Andrew, 1816-1877, History of the Jesuits, →OCLC:A human vulture, God sent thee The world's great scavenger to be. To cleanse it of its scumber;
1900, Johnstone, Julian E, Songs of Sun and Shadow, →OCLC:Let’s see, if by your scumber, you are fox!
1958, Djuna Barnes, The Antiphon:[…] the Scumber of the Fox, the Spraints of the Otter[…]
1660, Howell, James., Lexicon Tetraglotton […] :
Forms
scumber en · VERB
Etymology
Perhaps Old French escumbrier (“to disencumber”).
Meanings
-
To defecate.
Beware of fire when you ſcumber, Though to ſh-- [shit] fire were a wonder,
1656, Choyce Drollery:But he that gaines the glory here Muſt ſcumber furtheſt, ſhite moſt clear.
1655, Mennes, John, Sir, 1599-1671, Musarum Deliciae ; and, Wit Restor'd:[…]and old Nick turn me into Bumfodder, if this did not make me ſo hide-bound and coſtive; that for four or five Days I hardly ſcumber'd one poor Butt of Sir-reverance and that too was full as dry and hard, I protest
1784, Rabelais, Francois., translated by M. Le Du Chat et al., The works of Francis Rabelais. Translated from the French […] :He’s not to come in the house, though, Natasha. Other than to scumber, I suppose. / What? / To disencumber. His bowels.
2009, Cooke, Sophie, Under the Mountain, →OCLC:
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To defecate. ▸ of a dog or fox
But that their beds were heav'd on high ; They thought some dog under did lie, And meant i' th' chamber (fie, fie, fie,) To scumber.
1832, Scott, Walter, Woodstock; or, The Cavalier, →OCLC:a brace of gray-houndes When they are ledd out of their kennels to ſcumber
1630, Massinger, Philip, The Picture a Tragae Comaedie […] :Some tyme pei han a siknesse bat pei mowe not pisse and byn ilost therbi, and also whan pei mowe not scombire
c. 1410, The Master of Game:
Forms