Plum-duff, subs. phr. (nautical).—Plum-dumpling; spotted-dog (q.v.).
Plump, subs. (old).—A blow.—Grose
(1785). Also plumper.
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 378. Gave me a plumper on the jaw, And cry'd: Pox take you!
Adj. and adv. (old: now recognised).—1. Exactly; downright; quite. Also as verb. = to meet in more or less violent contact; and plumply (or plump and plain) = without reserve, roundly.
1535. Coverdale, Trans. Bible [Oliphant, New English, i. 441. We see 'The waters plumped together'; hence our 'going plump into a thing.']
1614. Beaumont and Fletcher, Wit at Several Weapons, i. 1. The art of swimming he that will attain to't, Must fall plump and duck himself at first.
1778. Burney, Evelina, lv. Plump we comes against a cart, with such a jog it almost pulled the coach-wheel off.
2. (old: now recognised).—Fat, full, fleshy.—Grose (1785). Hence, plump in the pocket = with plenty of money; warm (q.v.).
Verb. (political).—1. To record a whole- (i.e., an unsplit-) vote. Whence plumper = (1) the voter and (2) the vote. Also (racing) = to back one horse; and (general) = 'to put all one's eggs in one basket.'—Grose (1785).
1871-2. G. Eliot, Middlemarch, li. Mr. Brooke's success must depend either on plumpers, or on the new minting of Tory votes into reforming votes.
1885. Westminster Rev. [Century]. They refused to exercise their right of electing local members, and plumped for Earl Grey himself in 1848.
2. (old).—To strike; to shoot.—Grose (1785).
3. See adj. and adv., sense 1.
Plumper, subs. (common).—1. An
unqualified falsehood: see Whopper.
2. (common).—A device for puffing out to smoothness the wrinkles of the cheeks.—Grose (1785). Also a false bosom.
16[?]. London Ladies Dressing Room [Nares]. And that the cheeks may both agree Their plumpers fill the cavity.
d.1745. Swift, Young Nymph. Now dextrously her plumpers draws, That serve to fill her hollow jaws.
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 123. Unless I dress your plumpers out . . . Then you'll . . . be willing To earn a sixpence or a shilling.
3. (political and general).—See Plump, verb.—Grose (1785).
4. See Plump, subs.
Plump-currant, adj. and adv.
(old).—In good condition; in
fettle; in high spirits.—Grose
(1785).
Plum-porridge, subs. phr. (old).—A
term of contempt: cf.
PUDDING-HEAD.
1634. Shakspeare and Fletcher, Two Noble Kinsmen, ii. 2. I'll be hanged though If he dare venture; hang him, plum-porridge! He wrestle? he roast eggs.
Plump-pate, subs. (old).—A blockhead:
see Buffer.
Plum-puddinger, subs. phr.
(American).—A small whaler
making short voyages. [Century:
the crew is dieted on fresh provisions
and an abundance of
plum-pudding.]
18[?]. Scammon, Marine Mammals, 241. Provincetown has ever been foremost with her numerous fleet of plum-PUDDINGERS.
