Humpty Dumpty

English

Humpty Dumpty upon his wall

Etymology

Possibly baby talk forms of Humphrey, since Dump and Dumphry have been recorded as pet forms of this given name. Various suggestions have been offered for the original meaning of the nursery rhyme, chiefly concerning the English Civil War, although none has received general acceptance.

Proper noun

Humpty Dumpty

1. A nursery rhyme character who falls from a wall and breaks irreparably in the manner of an egg; (figurative) by extension, anything similarly fragile, irreparably damaged, or insecure, precariously at risk of such irreparable damage.
   • 1907, Annie van Sommer et al., Our Moslem Sisters..., page 210:

     ... she sits perched high up, astride a man's saddle, looking in her balloon garments, and doubtless feeling, more insecure than Humpty Dumpty on the wall.

   • 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.