fumf

English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Yiddish פֿאָנפֿען (fonfen, “to speak with a nasal twang, to mumble”). Compare fumfer.

Verb

fumf (third-person singular simple present fumfs, present participle fumfing, simple past and past participle fumfed)

1. (rare) Synonym of fumfer (“to speak awkwardly or evasively; to fiddle or fumble”)
   • 1983, David S. Reiss, quoting William Christopher, “William Christopher”, in M*A*S*H: The Exclusive, Inside Story of TV's Most Popular Show, Indianapolis, I.N., New York, N.Y.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., →ISBN, page 42, column 2:

     '"To me,' Bill says, "Mulcahy is a pretty straight guy who doesn't quite have a handle on everything, and there's a little bit of 'fumfing' [a favorite word of Bill's] and confusion."

   • 1995, Nancy Bogen, Bagatelle·Guinevere, New York, N.Y.: The Twickenham Press, →ISBN, page 262:

     The other day while I was fumfing on the viewer's panel, something curious happened — when I pressed a particular spot, the pot, which was uppermost in my mind at the moment, materialized on the screen. I'm gonna see if I can find that spot again . . . for starters. . . .

   • 2008, Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book, New York, N.Y.: Harper, →ISBN, page 319:

     I think I said, "You mean it's Monday?" And I fumfed and mumbled and said something of a "thankyouthankyouthankyouokaythiswasworthbeingwokenupfor" nature.

Etymology 2

Onomatopoeic.

Noun

fumf

1. (onomatopoeia) The sound of rushing air or a dull impact.
   • 2012, Nichole Bernier, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D., New York, N.Y.: Broadway Paperbacks, →ISBN, page 200:

     I hit the Bruckner Expressway and turned the music up until I could feel the bass in my breastbone. Then I heard the fumf of a blown tire.

   • 2017, Rebecca Podos, Like Water, New York, N.Y.: Belzer + Bray, →ISBN, page 228:

     Letting my horrifically knotted hair tumble across my face, I close my eyes, then startle at the ripe fumf of Leigh's backpack hitting the floor.