hummer (n.)

c. 1600, of insects, agent noun from hum (v.). Meaning "energetic person or thing" is 1680s; that of "excellent person or thing" is slang from 1907. As short for Humvee, attested from 1983.

Entries linking to hummer

hum (v.)

late 14c., hommen "make a murmuring sound to cover embarrassment," later hummen "to buzz, drone" (early 15c.), probably of imitative origin. Sense of "sing with closed lips" is first attested late 15c.; that of "be busy and active" is 1884, perhaps on analogy of a beehive. Related: Hummed.

humvee (n.)

1983, popularized 1991 in Persian Gulf War military slang, rough acronym for high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle.

humdinger (n.)

1883, American English, probably from dinger, an early 19c. slang word for anything superlative; also see hummer.

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updated on September 11, 2015

Definitions of hummer from WordNet

hummer (n.)

a singer who produces a tune without opening the lips or forming words;

hummer (n.)

(baseball) a pitch thrown with maximum velocity;

Synonyms: fastball / heater / smoke / bullet

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near hummer

humiliate

humiliating

humiliation

humility

hummable

hummer

humming

hummock

hummus

humongous

humor