rumpty

See also: Rumpty

English

WOTD – 11 November 2013, 11 November 2014

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈɹʌmp.tɪ/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Interjection

rumpty

1. A nonsense word, especially in simple or childish songs.
   • 2009, Patricia Reilly Giff, “chapter 6”, in Nory Ryan's Song:

     I sang it through, "Rumpty tumpty toddy man," as Granda thumped his blackthorn stick against the floor and everyone laughed.

   • 2010, Dawn Dalglish, Jacob's World, page 127:

     […] he heard a distant sound, or song, behind him. "Rumpty didily dum. Rumpty dididly doo. Rumpty doo doo dumpty didily rumpty didily dum."

Related terms

• rumpti-
• rumpty-tumpty

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Adjective

rumpty (comparative more rumpty, superlative most rumpty)

1. (New Zealand) Of a quality below standard; in a state of disrepair.
   • 2000, Nigel Cox, Skylark Lounge, page 12:

     I lived in a fringe of the city, down Happy Valley Road, in a bit of a rumpty palace of a house banged together by some DIY no-hoper.

Synonyms

• (below standard): dilapidated, run down

Related terms

• Rumpty

Translations

below standard; in a state of disrepair

Anagrams

• Trumpy