thrum

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English -thrum (in tungethrum ligament of the tongue); akin to Old High German drum fragment Date: 14th century 1. a. (1) a fringe of warp threads left on the loom after the cloth has been removed (2) one of these warp threads b. a tuft or short piece of rope yarn used in thrumming canvas — usually used in plural c. bit, particle 2. a hair, fiber, or threadlike leaf on a plant; also a tuft or fringe of such structures • thrum adjective II. transitive verb (thrummed; thrumming) Date: 15th century 1. to furnish with thrums ; fringe 2. to insert short pieces of rope yarn or spun yarn in (a piece of canvas) to make a rough surface or a mat which can be wrapped about rigging to prevent chafing III. verb (thrummed; thrumming) Etymology: imitative Date: 1592 intransitive verb 1. to play or pluck a stringed instrument idly ; strum 2. to sound with a monotonous hum transitive verb 1. to play (as a stringed instrument) in an idle or relaxed manner 2. to recite tiresomely or monotonously IV. noun Date: 1798 the monotonous sound of thrumming