Humpty Dumpty

English

Etymology

Possibly baby talk forms of Humphrey, since Dump and Dumphry have been recorded as pet forms of this given name.

Proper noun

Humpty Dumpty

1. A nursery rhyme character, a short, squat, egg-like being who falls from a wall and breaks, whose name has become synonymous with anything fragile or the existence of which is precarious.
   • 2009, Philip Kennedy, A Modern Introduction to Theology: New Questions for Old Beliefs:

     For many people, traditional Christian theology is a Humpty-Dumpty: it has tumbled from its perch and can't be put together again.

Derived terms

• Humpty-Dumptyish
• Humpty Dumptyism
• Humpty Dumpty word

Related terms

• humpty

Translations

fairy tale character

• Arabic: هَمْبْتِي دَمْبْتِي m (hambtī dambtī)
• Finnish: Lilleri Lalleri, Tyyris Tyllerö, Nokkelis Kokkelis
• German: Humpty Dumpty m, Goggelmoggel m
• Irish: Filimín Failimín m
• Navajo: Hą́ą́bídíí dąbidíí
• Russian: Шалта́й-Болта́й (ru) m (Šaltáj-Boltáj)
• Swedish: Humpty Dumpty

Noun

Humpty Dumpty (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) A Romani drink of ale boiled with brandy.