bumpkin
1 Americannoun
noun
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of bumpkin1
1560–70; < Middle Dutch bommekijn “little barrel,” equivalent to boom beam + -kijn -kin
Origin of bumpkin2
First recorded in 1625–35; from Middle Dutch boomken, equivalent to boom “tree, pole, beam” + -ken, diminutive suffix; see origin at boom 2, beam, -kin
Explanation
Bumpkin is a disparaging term for someone who's unsophisticated and lacks social grace. This word is most commonly applied to people who live in the country, away from cultural events and urban life. A stereotypical bumpkin is uneducated, not well read and not particularly interested in the wider world. Before you write someone off as a bumpkin, you should probably get to know them better: this is a word that's firmly rooted in stereotypes and often erroneous assumptions. According to etymologists, bumpkin derives from a Dutch word that means "small barrel."
Vocabulary lists containing bumpkin
Moby Dick
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Almost American Girl
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Frank Gifford (1930-2015) Tribute List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Three of our family of five’s favorite islands are Bumpkin, Georges and Peddocks, because these islands enable us to have an adventure, explore history and have a spooky experience.
From Washington Post • Jul. 22, 2022
You can hike, swim, attend special events and experience history on the islands; four of them — Bumpkin, Grape, Lovells and Peddocks — have campgrounds.
From Washington Post • Jul. 22, 2022
However, after starting to self-produce and engineer, she set up Bumpkin, her own studio.
From The Guardian • Nov. 11, 2020
“The best indoor gardens are the ones you can keep by your windowsill and water less than once a week,” says Krissie Nagy, owner of gardening company BK Bumpkin.
From Slate • Aug. 11, 2018
Bumpkin, Lumpkin, and Rumpkin struck the firestones together, and everyone cheered when they finally managed a spark.
From "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
