mumming

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ʌmɪŋ

Verb

mumming

1. present participle and gerund of mum
2. present participle and gerund of mumm

Noun

mumming (countable and uncountable, plural mummings)

1. A pantomime or dumb show.

   Synonym: mummering

   • 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Romance and Reality. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, pages 280–281:

     The vassals or tenants collected in the hall for Christmas masking and mumming—the peasant gathering that May-day called out upon the green, drew together ranks whose distance, in our day, occasions forgetfulness on one side, and discontent on the other.

   • 2011, Susan Lauffer O'Hara, The Theatricality of Mary Wroth's Pamphilia to Amphilanthus:

     The court masque has its origin in medieval court mummings.