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; 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."

Related Words

• country bumpkin
• rube