stump

[[t]stʌmp[/t]]

n.

1) the lower end of a tree trunk or plant left standing after the upper part falls or is cut off

2) the part of a limb of the body remaining after the rest has been cut off

3) den a part of a broken or decayed tooth left in the gum

4) any base part or short remnant remaining after the main part has been removed; stub

5) an artificial leg

6) inf Usu., stumps. Informal. the legs

7) a short, stocky person

8) a heavy, sometimes uneven step or gait

9) gov the figurative place of political speechmaking:

to go on the stump[/ex]

10) fia a short, thick roll of paper, leather, etc., usu. having a blunt point, for rubbing a pencil, charcoal, or crayon drawing in order to achieve subtle gradations of tone in representing light and shade

11) spo each of the three upright sticks that, with the two bails laid on top of them, form a wicket in cricket

12) to reduce to a stump; truncate; lop

13) agr. to clear of stumps, as land

14) to nonplus or render completely at a loss:

The question stumped me[/ex]

15) to challenge or dare to do something

16) gov to make political campaign speeches to or in:

to stump a state[/ex]

17) dial. Chiefly Southern U.S. to stub, as one's toe

18) spo (of the wicketkeeper in cricket) to put (a batsman) out by knocking down a stump or by dislodging a bail with the ball held in the hand while the batsman is off his ground

19) fia to tone or modify (a drawing) with a stump

20) to walk heavily or clumsily, as if with a wooden leg

21) gov to make political campaign speeches

•

- up a stump

Etymology: 1200–50; (n.) ME stompe, c. or < MD stomp, MLG stump(e); cf. OHG stumpf stump′er, n. stump•y, adj. -i•er, -i•est.