mum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   secrecy

   mum's the word

2. 2
   noun

   Mother.

   From the Marvel Mixmaster to the Miracle Microwave, every time a new-fangled gadget has lobbed into the Aussie kitchen, Aussie mums have changed their cooking styles accordingly.

3. 3
   noun

   A chrysanthemum.

   I don't know whether that's true or whether New Yorkers are being enjoined from watering the mums in their window boxes or whatever, but I do know that there hasn't been one rain-delay in the whole tournament so far […].

4. 4
   adj

   Silent.

   The citizens are mum, and speak not a word.

5. 5
   adj

   Secret.

   “Come here, friend,” sternly from the doctor. “Now I give you the way inside if you’ll promise to keep it mum.”

6. 6
   intj

   stop speaking!, stop talking!, hush!

   Mum, then, and no more.

7. 7
   verb

   To silence.

   "Well, Sal, you mum your dubber pretty generally, but when you do slacken your glib you may as well do it civilly."

8. 8
   noun

   Silence.

   Entrust it under solemn Vows / Of Mum and Silence,[…]

Etymology

From Middle English mum or mom (“silent”), reminiscent of the sound made when gagged or with a hand over one's mouth. Perhaps related to dated German Mumme (“mask”).