Word: hummer Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From hum + -er. 1. One who hums. Example: Judy hummed to herself. “My mother was a hummer,” LeVecque said, without looking at her. Example: Will you be a singer or sad scared little hummer? 2. A Humvee. Labels: informal 3. A type of vehicle resembling a jeep but bulkier. Example: The newlyweds took a hummer limo back to their casino resort. Example: Some playa's^([sic]) had went^([sic]) all out, showing up in chauffeured Navigator and Hummer limousines. 4. A hummingbird. Labels: informal Example: July roth saw the first spotted egg hardly larger than a “hummer's,” lying in the nest. Example: The Sargents' status as hummingbird gurus is unrivaled and well deserved. They began banding hummers back in 1988, when, Bob says, there were only 28 other banders in the country. 5. A humdinger; something or someone exceptional or outstanding of their type. Labels: informal Example: "Ain't it a hummer of a day?" Jim exclaimed, suddenly, looking toward the valley swimming in a silver mist below us. "By Jiminy! it makes a man feel like living, don't it?" Example: Dad's a real hummer at poker. 6. A machine that runs particularly well and smoothly. Example: “How'd you do with the rig?” Tater asked. Bubba did the sniff and wipe number again. “Piece a cake. That baby's a real hummer, Tater.” Example: You'll have to drive this here automobile; she is a real hummer. 7. A very energetic or lively person; a powerful lively thing. Labels: slang Example: I had a thousand liars, perjurers and villains call on me, and six genuine survivors of Lafitte's band; besides quite a delegation of widows and daughters and offspring of the late lamented pirate. No less than ten of his widows turned up; Jean must have been a hummer! Example: He drinks, swears, smokes, plays cards, and when it comes to ragtime, my boy, he can beat any man on the stage. Oh, you bet he is a hummer, all right! 8. A place, event etc. that is bustling or full of activity. Labels: dated, slang Example: [Heading: The Conferences] St. Joe was a hummer. It was largely attended, enthusiastic, and splendidly entertained by the pastor, Rev. J. Simons, and his people. Example: “The best Reunion class of all will be back in Jersey on June 6 to 10, for a real off-year reunion, which will be a hummer.[…]” 9. Something that generates a lot of attention, talk, and excitement. Example: Lansing Rubber Company Will Be Real Hummer Example: Let us make this department a real hummer. Not a blessed club should be unrepresented. Even the most modest among us likes publicity. 10. A fastball. Example: Branca, concentrating so intently that he didn't hear the braying crowd, threw a hummer down the middle. 11. Fellatio, especially when the person performing the act vibrates their mouth by humming. Labels: slang Example: My mama says they make Danish jelly out of cow balls, man. Eating that's like giving a heifer a hummer. Example: After all that bickering over Eddie Kissena, Charity goes into the ladies room and finds Denise Slater on her knees, giving him a hummer. 12. Someone who upsets or irritates others; a trouble-maker or controversial figure. Example: Of all the onnery new galoots That come to Scrambletown that summer, The meanest cuss—you bet your boots— Was H.A. Jones. He was a hummer! This Jones he was the biggest liar In all that country, all aroun' ; And by the high celestial choir, The liars there was hard to down,—In Scrambletown. Example: I nade not say that we do not want the wan whom a gang av political hummers and gutther-politicians have nominated. 13. The condition of having no money. Labels: obsolete, slang, usually Example: During the course of their restless, feverish careers they solicit insurance, collect for instalment houses, work advertising schemes, and finally land square on the hummer. Example: "It's the crooks and the fourflushers who have put the boxing game on the hummer," the champion was saying. 14. An admirer. Labels: obsolete, slang Example: The description therefore which the Duke of Ormond's correspondent gives of himself accords in no way with the early experience of the fluent extempore preacher whose eloquence roused Evelyn's enthusiasm, and was so generally admired that when he had preached the hour-glass out, his "hummers" used to encourage him to give them another hour of exhortation. 15. A tantrum or fuss. Example: In 1970 she threw a real hummer in her widely acclaimed article for the New York Times entitled “And Don't Call Them 'Lady' Composers” which attacked the music establishment for its sexist practices and its willful dismissal of women's participation and achievement (Oliversos 1970). 16. A lie or tall tale. Labels: obsolete, slang Example: It is not supposed that there is now, or that there ever was a man in Madison county who would willfully lie to hurt a fellow-man, or even to enhanced his own interests, but for your spinning yarns and big story telling, she has had some "hummers." Example: "We'll 'salt' 'Paradise' and work her off for a hummer." "But that will be swindling," protested Clark. 17. A liar. Labels: obsolete, slang Example: The fine lady thinks she has wit, when she scandalizes her absent neighbours; and the hummer, when he hath told a lye with a grave face; 18. Something that smells very bad. Labels: slang Example: […] stench. It was a real hummer, that's for sure. The doc went back inside and returned moments later […]