mum

Meanings

Noun

• Mother.
• ma'am; a term of respect for an older woman.
• A chrysanthemum.
• silence
• A type of strong beer, originally made in Brunswick, Germany.

Adjective

• Silent.
• Secret.

Interjection

• stop speaking!, stop talking!, hush!

Verb

• To act in a pantomime or dumb show.

Origin

• Alternative form of mam, or an abbreviation of mummy. Compare mom, mama.
• Abbreviation of chrysanthemum.
• From Middle English mum or mom, reminiscent of the sound made when gagged or with a hand over one's mouth. Perhaps related to dated German Mumme ("mask").
• German Mumme, named after Christian Mumme, who first brewed it in 1492.