MUMPS

mumps, epidemic parotitis

(noun) an acute contagious viral disease characterized by fever and by swelling of the parotid glands

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Proper noun

MUMPS

Acronym of Massachusetts General Hospital Utility Multi-Programming System; a programming language (and database) developed originally to be specifically for hierarchically arranged records, such as medical records.

Etymology

Noun

mumps pl (plural only)

(pathology) A contagious disease caused by the Mumps virus of the genus Rubulavirus, mostly occurring in childhood, which causes swelling of glands in the face and neck.

(dated) A gloomy or sullen silence.

Usage notes

• Usually used with a singular verb.

Hypernyms

• parotitis

Verb

mumps

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of mump

Noun

mumps

plural of mump

Source: Wiktionary


Mumps, n. Etym: [Prov. E. mump to be sulky. Cf. Mump, Mumble, and Mum.]

1. pl.

Definition: Sullenness; silent displeasure; the sulks. Skinner.

2. Etym: [Prob. so called from the patient's appearance.] (Med.)

Definition: A specific infectious febrile disorder characterized by a nonsuppurative inflammation of the parotid glands; epidemic or infectious parotitis.

MUMP

Mump, v. i. Etym: [Akin to mumble; cf. D. mompen to cheat; perh. orig., to whine like a beggar, D. mompelen to mumble. See Mumble, Mum, and cf. Mumps.]

1. To move the lips with the mouth closed; to mumble, as in sulkiness. He mumps, and lovers, and hangs the lip. Taylor, 1630.

2. To talk imperfectly, brokenly, or feebly; to chatter unintelligibly.

3. To cheat; to deceive; to play the beggar. And then when mumping with a sore leg, ... canting and whining. Burke.

4. To be sullen or sulky. [Prov. Eng.]

Mump, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mumped; p. pr. & vb. n. Mumping.]

1. To utter imperfectly, brokenly, or feebly. Old men who mump their passion. Goldsmith.

2. To work over with the mouth; to mumble; as, to mump food.

3. To deprive of (something) by cheating; to impose upon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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21 April 2025

ENCYCLOPEDIA

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