mumps

Meanings

Noun

• A contagious disease caused by the Mumps virus (species) of the genus Rubulavirus (genus), mostly occurring in childhood, which causes swelling of glands in the face and neck.
• A gloomy or sullen silence.
• Plural of mump

Verb

• Third-person singular simple present indicative form of mump

Related

Broader meaning words

• parotitis

Origin

• Circa 1600, from mump, compare mump, most likely referring to the painful difficulty in swallowing.