mumps

See also: MUMPS and Mumps

English

Etymology

Circa 1600, from mump (“grimace”, noun), compare mump (verb), most likely referring to the painful difficulty in swallowing.

Noun

mumps pl (plural only)

  1. (pathology) A contagious disease caused by the Mumps virus of the genus Rubulavirus, mostly occurring in childhood, which causes swelling of glands in the face and neck.
  2. (dated) A gloomy or sullen silence.

Usage notes
  • Usually used with a singular verb.

Translations

Verb

mumps

  1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of mump

Noun

mumps

  1. plural of mump

References

“mumps” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.

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