Dŭmp1, n.
n. [D. domp, damp, Ger. dampf, vapor, smoke; Ger. dumpf, damp, dull, gloomy. Cf. DAMP.]
Sense 1. A dull, gloomy state of the mind; sadness; melancholy; sorrow; heaviness of heart; despondency; — usually in the plural.
March slowly on in solemn dump. Hudibras.
My sinews dull, in dumps I stand. Surrey.
☞ The ludicrous associations now attached to this word did not originally belong to it. Dr. Trench says, in speaking of this word, “A ludicrous, coarse, or vulgar use of a word brings it into disuse in elegant discourse. In the great ballad of Chevy Chase, a noble warrior, whose legs are hewn off, is described as being in ‘doleful dumps.’ Holland’s translation of Livy represents the Romans as being ‘in the dumps’ after the battle of Cannæ. It was in elegant use then.”
Sense 2. Absence of mind; revery. Locke.
Sense 3. A melancholy strain in music, either vocal or instrumental. “Tune a deplorable dump.” Shak. “Dumps so dull and heavy.” Shak.
Sense 4. An old kind of dance. Nares.
Sense 5. A clumsy leaden counter used by boys at chuck-farthing. [Eng.] Smart.