gumption - From Ulster to America
Source: From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English
Author: Michael Montgomery
Comments: From Ulster to America recounts the lasting impact eighteenth-century settlers from Ulster have made on the development of the English language of the United States. The book documents over 500 vocabulary items contributed to American English by these ‘Scotch-Irish’ settlers. Each ‘shared’ term with its meaning is authenticated by quotations from both sides of the Atlantic. This searchable online version of his book takes its text from the dictionary part of the second edition published by the Ullans Press in 2017.
gumption, gumtion, gunktion n Common sense, good judgment, practical understanding; shrewdness, initiative, resourcefulness. [oed gumption originally Scottish (cf rum-, rumble-gumption) n 1 ‘common sense, mother wit, shrewdness, also initiative, enterprise’ 1719→, colloquial; snd gumption n ‘common sense, “horse sense”, shrewdness, mother wit, savoir faire’ 1711→; dare gumption n 1 ‘common sense, good judgment’ especially South, South Midland, 2 ‘ambition, initiative; tenacity’] (Note: The two senses of this word, both of which have long existed, overlap and in some cases cannot be distinguished in citations.)
Ulst.:
1880 Patterson Antrim/Down Glossary 47 = quickness of understanding, common sense, tact.
1903 MacManus Lad of O’Friels 150 Nuala Gildea, have a little gumption and stan’ out of our roads.
c1910 Byers Glossary = tact, judgment, common sense, quickness of understanding, shrewdness, capacity.
1923 Lutton Montiaghisms 23 = rationality, common sense (also gunktion).
1942 Bangor Words 38 = courage associated with common sense: ‘Ah, for goodness sake have a wee bit of gumption’.
1948 Marshall Planted by River 154 Glasgow College can make Doctors of Divinity, but gumption is the gift of God.
c1955 Montgomery Heard in Ulster 51 = good sense or judgment: ‘He hes plenty o’ guid Ulster gumption’.
1991 O’Kane You Don’t Say 63 = shrewd commonsense, with the added implication of doing your duty; the quality of being trustworthy and reliable: ‘Sure if he had any gumption he would have fixed up the house and paid off the old man’s debts’.
U.S.:
1815 Humphreys Yankey in England 105 gumtion = sense, understanding, intellect.
1899 Green Virginia Word-Book 172 = acuteness of practical understanding; clear, practical common sense; quick perception of the right thing to do under ususual circumstances.
1908 Payne Word-list East Alabama 318 = sense: ‘He’s got plenty of gumption’.
1940 Haun Hawk’s Done 156 Wilbur didn’t have any more gumption than to let Nick beg him into going.
1974-75 McCracken Logging 11:81 If a fellow had enough gumption, why, it was worth something to him.
1989 Landry Smoky Mt Interviews 191 They called that teaching you gumption, you know. Now they call it common sense.
1994 Montgomery Coll He didn’t have enough gumption to come in out of the rain.
Purchase From Ulster to America
The second, revised edition of Michael Montgomery’s From Ulster to America is now available here:
From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English (Europe)
From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English (North America)
