gumption

Meaning

Noun

• Common sense, initiative, resourcefulness.
• Boldness of enterprise; aggressiveness or initiative.
• Energy of body and mind, enthusiasm.

Origin

• From Scots gumption ("common sense, shrewdness; drive, initiative"); further etymology unknown, possibly connected with Middle English gome ("attention, heed"), from Old Norse gaumr ("attention, heed"). English cognates include gaum and goam.