Bumkin

Definitions

  • Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • n Bumkin (Naut) A projecting beam or boom; as: One projecting from each bow of a vessel, to haul the fore tack to, called a tack bumpkin. One from each quarter, for the main-brace blocks, and called brace bumpkin. A small outrigger over the stern of a boat, to extend the mizzen.
    • ***
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • n bumkin Nautical: Formerly, a short boom projecting from each side of the bow of a ship, to extend the weather-clew of the foresail. A short beam of wood or iron projecting from each quarter of a vessel, to which the main-brace and maintopsail brace-blocks are fastened. A small outrigger over the stern of a boat, used to extend the clew of the after-sail. Also written boomkin, bumpkin.
    • ***
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • n Bumkin bum′kin a short beam of timber projecting from each bow of a ship, for the purpose of extending the lower corner of the foresail to windward: a small outrigger over the stern of a boat, usually serving to extend the mizzen.
    • ***

Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
Boom, a beam + -kin,. See Bumpkin
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
From Boom, and dim. termination kin.

Usage

In literature:

BUMKIN, BUMPKIN, OR BOOMKIN.
"The Sailor's Word-Book" by William Henry Smyth
Come, your good health, Mr. Bumkin, and success to our lawsuit.
"The Humourous Story of Farmer Bumpkin's Lawsuit" by Richard Harris
The bumkins are beaten, put up thy sword, Bob, And now let's dance into the town.
"English and Scottish Ballads, Volume V (of 8)"
***

Related words