bumpkin

¹ American  

[buhmp-kin] / ˈbʌmp kɪn /

noun

Informal.

1. an awkward, simple, unsophisticated person from a rural area; yokel.

   Synonyms:

   yahoo, hick, rube, hayseed, hillbilly, boor, clod

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bumpkin ² American  

[buhmp-kin] / ˈbʌmp kɪn /

Also boomkin

noun

Nautical.

1. a beam or spar projecting outward from the hull of a vessel, for extending a sail, securing blocks, etc.

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bumpkin ¹ British  

/ ˈbʌmpkɪn /

noun

1. an awkward simple rustic person (esp in the phrase country bumpkin )

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bumpkin ² British  

/ ˈbʌmpkɪn /

noun

1. variant spellings of boomkin

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Other Word Forms

• bumpkinish adjective
• bumpkinly adjective

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; boom ², beam, -kin

Example Sentences

Realizing their fate has been placed in the hands of some bumpkin from the U.S. doesn’t give them much hope . . . until Ted gets to work, partly inspired by that Walt Whitman quote.

From Salon

My self-consciousness about the high number of touring productions persuaded me not to include “Shucked” at the Hollywood Pantages, which lightened the summer with its country bumpkin merriment.

From Los Angeles Times

Adebimpe exclaimed between bites of mushroom tagliatelle, adopting a bumpkin commentator’s voice.

From New York Times

“Shanghai was the place to be. It had the best restaurants, the best nightclubs, the coolest people. I felt like such a country bumpkin, but I learned fast.”

From BBC

According to Taylor in his autobiography, “Private Domain,” Mr. Wagoner took on the persona “of being a bumpkin in the Big City for all it’s worth.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• country bumpkin
• rube