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Dump

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A Brazilian copper coin, worth about 2 1/2d.; also a round flat lump of lead used on board ship for playing quoits and chuck-penny. Hence dumpy or dumpty (squat or small). An egg is called a humpty-dumpty in the nursery verses beginning with “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,” etc.        

Death saw two players playing cards,

But the game was not worth a dump.”

1


Hood: Death’s Ramble, stanza 14.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Dumb-bells
Dumb-bells
Dumb-bidding
Dumb-cow (To)
Dumb Crambo
Dumb Dog (A)
Dumb Ox of Cologne (The)
Dumb-waiter
Dummy
Dummies
Dump
Dumps
Dun
Dun Cow
Dun in the Mire
Dunce
Dunciad
Dunderhead
Dundreary (Lord)
Dungaree
Dunghill!

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Dumb-bells