*bumb*

See Bombard. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Bumboat. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Bombast. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Bumbeloes [ It. bombola. ] A glass used in subliming camphor. [ Spelled also bombolo and bumbolo. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Bump to boom. ] (Zool.) The bittern. [ Local, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make a hollow or humming noise, like that of a bumblebee; to buzz; to cry as a bittern. [ 1913 Webster ]

As a bittern bumbleth in the mire. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. to act ineptly or without clear understanding of what one is doing; to blunder; to stumble about; -- sometimes used with around. [ PJC ]

v. t. to bungle (a task). [ PJC ]

n. [ OE. bumblen to make a humming noise (dim. of bum, v. i.) + bee. Cf. Humblebee. ] (Zool.) A large bee of the genus Bombus, sometimes called humblebee; -- so named from its sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ There are many species. All gather honey, and store it in the empty cocoons after the young have come out. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Origin unknown; cf. Bumble, n. ] 1. The old game of nineholes. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Card Playing) Whist played in an unscientific way. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adj. not skillful in physical movement especially with the hands; as, a bumbling mechanic.
Syn. -- bungling, butterfingered, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ From bum the buttocks, on account of its clumsy form; or fr. D. bun a box for holding fish in a boat. ] (Naut.) A clumsy boat, used for conveying provisions, fruit, etc., for sale, to vessels lying in port or off shore. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a bee that is parasitic in the nests of bumblebees. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. obumbrans, p. pr. ] (Zool.) Overhanging; as, obumbrant feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. obumbratus, p. p. of obumbrare to overshadow, cloud; ob + umbrare to shade. ] To shade; to darken; to cloud. [ R. ] Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obumbratio. ] Act of darkening or obscuring. [ R. ] Sir T. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Beneath or forward of the umbos of a bivalve shell. [ 1913 Webster ]