Hump
/hʌmp/noun
A rounded protuberance or raised bump on a surface or on an animal’s back.
Did you know?English “hump” is probably related to Dutch and Low German forms for a protuberance, but its deeper ancestry is uncertain, which makes it a rare everyday word with a murky, shadowy origin.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
humpe
“A swelling, lump, or protuberance.”
16th Century
English
hump
“A rounded bulge or raised mass, especially on the back of an animal.”
16th–17th Century
Dutch/Low German
hump / humpel-
“A lump, bump, or uneven projection.”
Modern English
English
hump
“A rounded elevation; by extension, a difficult stretch or burden, and in informal use, the back of the body.”
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