mum

¹

[ muhm ]

adjective

1. silent; not saying a word:

   to keep mum.

interjection

1. (used to demand immediate silence.)

mum

²

or mumm

[ muhm ]

verb (used without object)

, mummed, mum·ming.

1. to say “mum”; call for silence.
2. to act as a mummer.

mum

³

[ muhm ]

noun

1. chrysanthemum.

mum

⁴

[ muhm ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. mom ( def 1 ).

mum

⁵

[ muhm ]

noun

1. a strong beer or ale, first made in Brunswick, Germany.

mum

⁶

[ muhm ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. madam.

mum

¹

/ mʌm /

noun

1. an informal word for mother 1

mum

²

/ mʌm /

verb

1. intr to act in a mummer's play

mum

³

/ mʌm /

adjective

1. keeping information to oneself; silent

noun

1. mum's the word
   silence or secrecy is to be observed

mum

⁴

/ mʌm /

noun

1. obsolete.
   a type of beer made from cereals, beans, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of mum¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English momme; imitative

Origin of mum²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mommen, verb use of mum ¹; compare Middle Dutch mommen ”to act the mummer's part”

Origin of mum³

First recorded in 1890–95; shortened form

Origin of mum⁴

First recorded in 1815–25; nursery word; mom

Origin of mum⁵

First recorded in 1630–40; from German Mumme, said to have been named after Christian Mumme, the brewer who made it

Origin of mum⁶

Variant of ma'am

Word History and Origins

Origin of mum¹

C19: a child's word

Origin of mum²

C16: verbal use of mum ²

Origin of mum³

C14: suggestive of closed lips

Origin of mum⁴

C17: from German Mumme, perhaps from the name of its original brewer

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. mum's the word, do not reveal what you know (about something); keep silent:

   Mum's the word, or the surprise party won't be a surprise.

Example Sentences

This might be why Cosby is keeping mum on the accusations, despite the obvious public relations disaster.

From The Daily Beast

If there was another goal, the Obama administration is keeping mum about it.

From The Daily Beast

The presidential hopefuls fire up the faithful with promises to extend the Republican revolution to 2016, as Jeb Bush stays mum.

From The Daily Beast

I think maybe it was the justification he used for that and how he treated my mum for having what he thought was an affair.

From The Daily Beast

“Mum was living in fear as well we were trapped,” Cumming tells me.

From The Daily Beast

People would call me a low-down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum—but that don't make no difference.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Maynard, with a sparkling glance about her that says "Mum," has slipped off her wedding-ring, and Belle has taken her hand.

From Project Gutenberg

Oh, Mum, I was going to get you a sweet little bracelet of old Irish paste—you know—a thing in four little chains.

From Project Gutenberg

And I have something to tell him, Mum—he'll—he'll be having a little sister in the spring.

From Project Gutenberg

Their tongues and loud Rad ram's-horns do their level best to win it, Mum.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bashful