dumbledore

American  

[duhm-buhl-dawr] / ˈdʌm bəlˌdɔr /

noun

British Dialect, Archaic.

1. bumblebee.

2. cockchafer.

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dumbledore British  

/ ˈdʌmbəlˌdɔː /

noun

1. Also (Southwest English): drumbledrane.  dialect a bumblebee

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Usage

What does dumbledore mean? Dumbledore is an old British word for a bumblebee. It can also refer to the kind of beetle known as a cockchafer. Dumbledore originated as a term used in a regional British dialect, but it is now very rarely used. An even less common variant of the word is dumbledrane. Today, it is much more well-known as the last name of Albus Dumbledore, a character from the Harry Potter series of books. Example: We sat on the grass and watched busy dumbledores collecting pollen from flowers.

Etymology

Origin of dumbledore

First recorded in 1785–90; from dumble-, a combining form used for names of buzzing insects + dore, a variant spelling of dor ¹ ( def. ); bumble ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

W. I know ’tes; but vur aal that, straddlebob’s zo right a neyam vor ’n as dumbledore ez.

From English Dialects From the Eighth Century to the Present Day by Skeat, Walter W. (Walter William)

Why, ye gurt zote vool, casn’t zee ’tes a dumbledore?

From English Dialects From the Eighth Century to the Present Day by Skeat, Walter W. (Walter William)