Lumps
/lʌmps/noun
Plural of lump: a compact mass or a swollen piece of matter.
Did you know?English lump is likely imitative or of uncertain origin, but it became the base of expressions like “lump sum,” where money is treated like a solid mass you can hold in one go.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
lump
“A compact mass; a bulky piece”
Early Modern English
English
lump
“A shapeless or rounded mass”
Modern English
English
lumps
“Plural form of lump, meaning compact masses or swellings”
Modern English
English
lump sum
“A single total payment made at once”