n. [ Cf. D. homp a lump, LG. hump heap, hill, stump, possibly akin to E. heap. Cf. Hunch. ] 1. A protuberance; especially, the protuberance formed by a crooked back. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A fleshy protuberance on the back of an animal, as a camel or whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Railroad) a portion of a switchyard with a slanting track in which freight cars may coast without an engine and be sorted through a series of switches. [ PJC ]

v. t. 1. To form into a hump; to make hump-shaped; to hunch; -- often with up.

The cattle were very uncomfortable, standing humped up in the bushes. T. Roosvelt. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. To put or carry on the (humped) back; to shoulder; hence, to carry, in general. [ Slang, Australia ]

Having collected a sufficient quantity, we humped it out of the bush. C. L. Money. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. To bend or gather together for strenuous effort, as in running; to do or effect by such effort; to exert; -- usually reflexively or with it; as, you must hump yourself. [ Slang, U. S. ]

A half dozen other negroes, some limping and all scared, were humping it across a meadow. McClure's Mag. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

4. (Railroad) to sort freight cars by means of a hump. [ PJC ]

5. to engage in sexual intercourse with. [ Vulgar Slang, U. S. ] [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. Hunchback. ] 1. A crooked back; a humped back. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A humpbacked person; a hunchback. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) (a) Any whale of the genus Megaptera, characterized by a hump or bunch on the back. Several species are known. The most common ones in the North Atlantic are Megaptera longimana of Europe, and Megaptera osphyia of America; that of the California coasts is Megaptera versabilis. (b) A small salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), of the northwest coast of America; the humpbacked salmon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a humped back. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A small salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) which ascends the rivers of the Pacific coast from California to Alaska, and also on the Asiatic side. In the breeding season the male has a large dorsal hump and distorted jaws. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. the humpback{ 3 }. [ PJC ]

a. Having a hump, as the back. [ 1913 Webster ]

interj. [ Of imitative origin. ] An exclamation denoting surprise, or contempt, doubt, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a hump. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having high, hunched shoulders. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]