noun

1. a vagrant, hobo, tramp, or beggar; specif., a shabby, often drunken derelict
2. any shiftless or irresponsible person, loafer, idler, etc.
3. a devotee, as of golf or skiing, who devotes so much time to the sport as to disrupt family life, career, etc.
4. an incompetent person, esp. an athlete

Etymology: < bummer, prob. < Ger bummler, loafer, habitually tardy person < bummeln, to go slowly, waste time

intransitive verb bummed, bumming bum′·ming

1. to live as a bum or vagrant
2. to live by begging or sponging on people

transitive verb

adjective bummer bum′·mer, bummest bum′·mest

1. poor in quality bum cooking
2. false, erroneous, or invalid a bum steer, a bum rap
3. lame or ailing a bum leg

noun

Etymology: ME bom < ? botem, bottom, as Du dial. boem < bodem, & obs. E bummery for bottomry