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Bum vs Half - What's the difference?

bum | half |

In obsolete terms the difference between bum and half

is that bum is a bumbailiff while half is part; side; behalf.

As nouns the difference between bum and half

is that bum is the buttocks while half is one of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided; — sometimes followed by of; as, a half of an apple.

As verbs the difference between bum and half

is that bum is to sodomize; to engage in anal sex while half is to halve.

As adjectives the difference between bum and half

is that bum is of poor quality or highly undesirable while half is consisting of a moiety, or half (1/2, 50%).

As an interjection bum

is an expression of annoyance.

As an adverb half is

in two equal parts or to an equal degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly.

As a preposition half is

a half-hour after, thirty minutes after used with the number of the hour.

bum

English

Etymology 1

1387,

Noun

(en noun)
  • The buttocks.
    • Okay, everyone sit on your bum and try and touch your toes.
  • (UK, Irish, AU, New Zealand, informal, rare, Canada, US) The anus.
  • (by metonymy, informal) A person.
    • Quotations
    * (English Citations of "bum")
    Usage notes
    * In the United States and Canada, bum'' is considered the most appropriate term when speaking to young children, as in ''Everyone please sit on your bum and we'll read a story.'' For older children and teenagers, especially males, as well as adults, the term (butt) is the most common term except in professional contexts such as medical, legal, and scientific where (buttocks) is generally used or (gluteus maximus), (gluteus medius), etc. for the muscles specifically. ''Glutes]]'' is often used in sports medicine and bodybuilding. ''Ass'' (US derivation of Old English ''[[arse, arse ) is considered somewhat vulgar in North America, whereas (backside), (behind), and (bottom) are considered to be old-fashioned and non-specific terms.
    Synonyms
    * (buttocks or anus) arse , ass (North America), backside, behind, bottom, bum (North America), butt (North America), heinie (North America), fanny (North America), tush (North America), tushie (North America) ** (buttocks specifically) butt cheeks (North America), buttocks (technical), cheeks, glutes (muscles), gluteus maximus (primary muscles) ** (anus specifically) anus (technical), arsehole , asshole (North America) * See also

    Verb

    (bumm)
  • (UK, transitive, colloquial) To sodomize; to engage in anal sex.

    • Interjection

    (en-interjection)
  • (label) An expression of annoyance.
  • * 2010 , Jill Mansell, Sheer Mischief:
    • Maxine tried hers. 'Oh bum ,' she said crossly. 'The sugar isn't sugar. It's salt.'

    Derived terms

    * bum bum * bumhole * bums in seats *

    Etymology 2

    1864,

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (North America, colloquial) A hobo; a homeless person, usually a man.
  • (North America, Australia, colloquial) A lazy, incompetent, or annoying person, usually a man.
    • ''Fred is becoming a bum - he's not even bothering to work more than once a month.
    That mechanic's a bum - he couldn't fix a yo-yo.
    That guy keeps interrupting the concert. Throw the bum out!
  • * 1987 , (The Pogues) - (Fairytale of New York)
    • You're a bum
    You're a punk
    You're an old slut on junk
    Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
  • (North America, Australia, colloquial, sports) A player or racer who often performs poorly.
    • Trade him to another team, he's a bum !
  • * 2001 , (Laura Hillenbrand) -
    • Seabiscuit, wrote another reporter, “was a hero in California and a pretty fair sort of horse in the midwest. In the east, however, he was just a ‘bum ’”
  • (colloquial) A drinking spree.
    • Synonyms
    * (hobo) hobo, homeless person, tramp, vagrant, wanderer, vagabond * (lazy person) loafer, bumpkin, footler, idler, lout, yob, yobbo, layabout * (drinking spree) binge, bender * See also * See also

    Verb

    (bumm)
  • (colloquial) To ask someone to give one (something) for free; to beg for something.
    • Can I bum a cigarette off you?
  • (colloquial) To behave like a hobo or vagabond; to loiter.
    • I think I'll just bum around downtown for awhile until dinner.
  • (transitive, slang, British) To wet the end of a marijuana cigarette (spliff).
    • Synonyms
    * cadge (British)

    Adjective

    (bummer)
  • Of poor quality or highly undesirable.
    • bum note
  • Unfair.
    • bum deal
  • Injured and without the possibility of full repair, defective.
    • I can't play football anymore on account of my bum knee.
  • Unpleasant.
    • He had a bum trip on that mescaline.
    Quotations
    * (English Citations of "bum")
    Synonyms
    * (defective) duff (UK)

    Derived terms

    * bum around * bum bailiff * bum rap * bum's rush * on the bum

    Etymology 3

    Verb

    (bumm)
  • To depress; to make unhappy.

    • References

    *

    Etymology 4

    See boom.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (dated) A humming noise.
    • (Halliwell)

    Verb

    (bumm)
  • To make a murmuring or humming sound.
    • (Jamieson)

    Etymology 5

    Abbreviations.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A bumbailiff.
  • * 1705 , (Bernard Mandeville), The Fable of the Bees :
    • About her Chariot, and behind, / Were Sergeants, Bums of every kind, / Tip-staffs, and all those Officers, / That squeeze a Living out of Tears.

    Anagrams

    * English words with different meanings in different locations ----

    half

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Consisting of a moiety, or half (1/2, 50%).
    • a half''' bushel''; ''a '''half''' hour''; ''a '''half''' dollar''; ''a '''half view
  • Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.
    • a half''' dream''; '''''half knowledge
  • * :
    • Assumed from thence a half consent.
  • (of a sibling) Having one parent (rather than two) in common.
    • A (half brother) or (half sister)
  • Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two.
    • A (half uncle) or (half aunt) or (half cousin)
  • (UK, time) Half an hour after the time given; half past.
    • We went to bed at half ten.

    Usage notes

    * The adjective and noun are often united to form a compound.

    Synonyms

    * hemi-, semi-, demi-

    Derived terms

    * half ape * half back * half bent * half binding * half boarder * half-breadth plan * half brother * half cadence * half cap * half cock * half cocked * half hitch * half hose * half-life * Half Life * half measure * half-moon * half note * half page * half pay * half price * half round * half shift * half sister * half step * half tide * half time * half tint * half truth * half year

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In two equal parts or to an equal degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly
    • half'''-colored''; '''''half''' done''; '''''half'''-hearted''; '''''half''' persuaded''; '''''half conscious
  • * :
    • Half' loth and ' half consenting.
  • * Nehemiah 13:24 :
    • Their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod.

    Noun

    (halves)
  • One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided; — sometimes followed by of; as, a half of an apple.
    • You don't know the half of it.
  • * (rfdate), :
    • Not half his riches known, and yet despised.
  • * (rfdate), :
    • A friendship so complete Portioned in halves between us
  • # (sports) One of the two opposite parts of the playing field of various sports, in which each starts the game.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 16, author=Ben Dirs, title=Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand 83-7 Japan, work=BBC Sport citation
    • , passage=However, the hosts hit back and hit back hard, first replacement hooker Andrew Hore sliding over, then Williams careering out of his own half and leaving several defenders for dead before flipping the ball to Nonu to finish off a scintillating move.}}
  • Half of a standard measure; frequently used (British) for half a pint of beer or cider.
  • * 1968 (British), John Braine, The Crying Game , Houghton Mifflin, p. 11,
    • He came back with a pint of Guinness for me and a half of bitter for Wendy.
  • * 1974 (British), James Herriot, All Things Bright and Beautiful , St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0312020309,
    • I accepted a half of bitter from him.
  • * 2006 (British), Bill Appleton, Wide Boy , Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie, ISBN 1843862530, p. 168,
    • I went to the bar where I bought a pint and two large brandies. ... "Not brandy," she replied, "but I could use a long drink - maybe a half of lager."
  • The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.
    • Three-quarters minus a quarter is a half .
  • (obsolete) part; side; behalf
  • * (rfdate), Wyclif
  • *:
  • * (rfdate), :
    • The four halves of the house

    Synonyms

    *

    Derived terms

    * better half * by halves * cry halves * go halves * half a loaf is better than none * half and half * in half * in one's half * know the half of * not half * not half bad * other half * too clever by half

    Verb

  • To halve.

    • Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • a half-hour after, thirty minutes after (used with the number of the hour)
    • half one — half past one, 1:30

    See also

    * half-

    References

    *

    Statistics

    * English nouns with irregular plurals 1000 English basic words ----