Bump
/bʌmp/noun
A sudden blow, jolt, or raised swelling on a surface.
Did you know?English bump is likely an expressive sound-symbolic word, and its close cousin bumpkin once meant a clumsy rustic—showing how one blunt noise became a whole social insult.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
bump
“a heavy blow or thud; to strike suddenly”
Early Modern English
English
bump
“a swelling, protuberance, or sudden impact”
Modern English
English
bump
“to strike or jolt; a raised swelling; a small increase”
18th Century
English
bumpkin
“originally a clumsy or awkward person, probably from a dialectal bump- word”
Modern English
English
bumps
“gooseflesh or raised skin caused by fear, cold, or emotion”