Attested since the 1300s, as Middle English bom (found in John Trevisa's 1387 Translation of the 'Polychronicon' of Ranulph Higden, "his bom is oute"), of uncertain origin. Sometimes suggested to be a shortening of botme, botom, bottum (“bottom”), but this is contradicted by the fact that bottom is not attested in reference to the buttocks until the late 1700s. Suggested by some old and modern references to be onomatopoeic. Compare also Old Irish, Scottish Gaelic bun (“base, bottom”). The anal sex senses (noun and verb), as well as the adjective (esp. the first) sense, are expletive-avoiding (i.e. Bowdlerized) shortenings of bumfuck.
John said that when he was little he stuck his finger in his bum and tasted his poopies and it was good.2013, Steven L. Ablon, Daniel P. Brown, Edward J. Khantzian, Human Feelings: Explorations in Affect Development and Meaning, page 132:
What could the man possibly be hiding up his bum anyway?2015, Jonathan Nicholas, Who'd be a copper?: Thirty years a frontline British cop:
2 more examples
Do you have intercourse (i.e., Do you penetrate your partner in the vagina or anus [bum]? Or does your partner penetrate your vagina or anus [bum])?2016, Lisa Keenan-Lindsay, Cheryl Sams, Constance L. O'Connor, Maternal Child Nursing Care in Canada, page 118:
[…] and said Daddy had put a finger up her bum.2017, Jean Renvoize, Innocence Destroyed: A Study of Child Sexual Abuse:
Attested since the 1300s, as Middle English bom (found in John Trevisa's 1387 Translation of the 'Polychronicon' of Ranulph Higden, "his bom is oute"), of uncertain origin. Sometimes suggested to be a shortening of botme, botom, bottum (“bottom”), but this is contradicted by the fact that bottom is not attested in reference to the buttocks until the late 1700s. Suggested by some old and modern references to be onomatopoeic. Compare also Old Irish, Scottish Gaelic bun (“base, bottom”). The anal sex senses (noun and verb), as well as the adjective (esp. the first) sense, are expletive-avoiding (i.e. Bowdlerized) shortenings of bumfuck.
Your bars are fake and my bars are real; / Is it true you got bummed on a field?2016 December 3, “Soph Aspin Send”, performed by Millie B:
bum
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Etymology
Attested since the 1300s, as Middle English bom (found in John Trevisa's 1387 Translation of the 'Polychronicon' of Ranulph Higden, "his bom is oute"), of uncertain origin. Sometimes suggested to be a shortening of botme, botom, bottum (“bottom”), but this is contradicted by the fact that bottom is not attested in reference to the buttocks until the late 1700s. Suggested by some old and modern references to be onomatopoeic. Compare also Old Irish, Scottish Gaelic bun (“base, bottom”). The anal sex senses (noun and verb), as well as the adjective (esp. the first) sense, are expletive-avoiding (i.e. Bowdlerized) shortenings of bumfuck.
The defensive line made a bum rush on the quarterback.
1 more example
"So I can see my finish with that firm when this bum show is over." "Well, I think you're silly, the way you go out of your way to get McIntyre's goat. You do, don't deny it."1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 4:
Also, Broadly, Colloquial, Derogatory, Sometimes A lazy, incompetent, or annoying person, usually a man.
Fred is becoming a bum—he’s not even bothering to work more than once a month.
That mechanic’s a bum—he couldn’t fix a yo-yo.
3 more examples
That guy keeps interrupting the concert. Throw the bum out!
You’re a bum / You’re a punk / You’re an old slut on junk / Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed1987, “Fairytale of New York”, performed by The Pogues:
Man who do you just think you are? / A silly bum with seven stars1988, Michael Weikath, “Keeper of the Seven Keys”, in Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II, performed by Helloween:
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Hobbies, Lifestyle, SportsColloquial A player or racer who often performs poorly.
Trade him to another team, he’s a bum!
Seabiscuit, wrote another reporter, “was a hero in California and a pretty fair sort of horse in the midwest. In the east, however, he was just a ‘bumʼ”2001, Laura Hillenbrand, Seabiscuit: An American Legend:
About her Chariot, and behind, / Were Sergeants, Bums of every kind, / Tip-staffs, and all those Officers, / That squeeze a Living out of Tears.1705, Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees: