gumption
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Or RUMGUMPTION, comprehension, capacity. From GAUM, to comprehend; "I canna gauge it, and I canna GAUM it," as a Yorkshire exciseman said of a hedgehog.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “gumption” mean?
Or RUMGUMPTION, comprehension, capacity. From GAUM, to comprehend; "I canna gauge it, and I canna GAUM it," as a Yorkshire exciseman said of a hedgehog.
Is “gumption” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.