hump

[huhmp] /hʌmp/
noun
1.
a rounded protuberance, especially a fleshy protuberance on the back, as that due to abnormal curvature of the spine in humans, or that normally present in certain animals, as the camel or bison.
2.
Physical Geography.
  1. a low, rounded rise of ground; hummock.
  2. a mountain or mountain range.
3.
Railroads. (in a switchyard) a raised area down which cars pushed to its crest roll by gravity and momentum for automatic sorting through a series of preset switches.
4.
Slang: Vulgar.
  1. an act or instance of coitus.
  2. a partner in coitus.
5.
the hump.
  1. British Slang. a fit of depression or bad humor:
    to get the hump.
  2. (initial capital letter) (in World War II) the Himalayas.
verb (used with object)
6.
to raise (the back) in a hump; hunch:
The cat humped its back.
7.
Railroads. to sort (cars) by means of a hump.
8.
Informal. to exert (oneself) in a great effort.
9.
Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
10.
Slang.
  1. to place or bear on the back or shoulder.
  2. to carry or haul.
  3. to load or unload; lift.
verb (used without object)
11.
to rise in a hump.
12.
Informal. to exert oneself; hustle or hurry.
13.
Slang: Vulgar. to engage in sexual intercourse.
Idioms
14.
over the hump, past the most difficult, time-consuming, or dangerous part or period:
The doctor says she's over the hump now and should improve steadily.
Origin
1700-10; probably abstracted from humpbacked
Related forms
humper, noun
humpless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for over the hump

hump

/hʌmp/
noun
1.
a rounded protuberance or projection, as of earth, sand, etc
2.
(pathol) a rounded deformity of the back in persons with kyphosis, consisting of a convex spinal curvature
3.
a rounded protuberance on the back of a camel or related animal
4.
(Brit, informal) the hump, a fit of depression or sulking (esp in the phrase it gives me the hump)
5.
over the hump, past the largest or most difficult portion of work, time, etc
verb
6.
to form or become a hump; hunch; arch
7.
(transitive) (Brit, slang) to carry or heave
8.
(slang) to have sexual intercourse with (someone)
9.
(Austral & NZ, informal) hump one's swag, (of a tramp) to carry one's belongings from place to place on one's back
Derived Forms
humplike, adjective
Word Origin
C18: probably from earlier humpbacked
Word Origin and History for over the hump

hump

n.

1680s (in hump-backed), from Dutch homp "lump," from Middle Low German hump "bump," from Proto-Germanic *hump-, from PIE *kemb- "to bend, turn, change, exchange." Replaced, or perhaps influenced by, crump, from Old English crump. A meaning attested from 1901 is "mound in a railway yard over which cars must be pushed," which may be behind the figurative sense of "critical point of an undertaking" (1914). Humpback whale is from 1725.

v.

"to do the sex act with," attested from 1785, but the source of this indicates it is an older word. Meaning "to raise into a hump" is from 1840. Related: Humped; humping.

Slang definitions & phrases for over the hump

over the hump

adjective phrase

Most of the way to success or completion; over the hill

[1925+; a 1914 source defines hump as ''the half-way point in a prison sentence'']


hump

noun

A contemptible constable; an incompetent:Apparently sometimes used jovially to mean simply ''cop'': I don't believe that hump! I'm trying to develop a case, and he acts like I'm a hysterical old maid looking for rapists under the bed (1990+ Police)

verb
  1. (also hump it, hump along) To move or go, esp with difficulty; slog: lack the nerve to hump it through to the end/ put on that pack and hump for miles through the boonies
  2. To do the sex act with or to; fuck: from the brave pilots who hump the nubile hostesses to the dialect-spouting steerage passenger (1785+)
  3. o exert oneself mightily; work hard:To work as if carrying something on one's back, or hump: and humped the big tractor trailer right off 128 and down ramp/ The groundskeepers have been humping to prepare the stadium for the big game (1835+)
Related Terms

bust one's ass, bust hump, dry fuck, get a hump on, get a move on, hit the hump, over the hill


Idioms and Phrases with over the hump

over the hump

Past the most difficult part, as in She's over the hump with her dissertation; she'll soon be done. This expression alludes to a barrier that impedes progress. [ ; 1920s ]

hump

see: over the hump