thrum, n. [OE. thrum, throm; akin to OD. drom, D. dreum, G. trumm, lump, end, fragment, OHG. drum end, Icel. römr edge, brim, and L. terminus a limit, term. Cf. Term.].

One of the ends of weaver's threads; hence, any soft, short threads or tufts resembling these. [1913 Webster]
Any coarse yarn; an unraveled strand of rope. [1913 Webster]
A threadlike part of a flower; a stamen. [1913 Webster]
A shove out of place; a small displacement or fault along a seam. [1913 Webster]
A mat made of canvas and tufts of yarn. [1913 Webster]

Thrum cap, a knitted cap. Halliwell. -- Thrum hat, a hat made of coarse woolen cloth. Minsheu.

thrum, v. t.

To furnish with thrums; to insert tufts in; to fringe. [1913 Webster]
"Are we born to thrum caps or pick straw?" [1913 Webster]
To insert short pieces of rope-yarn or spun yarn in; as, to thrum a piece of canvas, or a mat, thus making a rough or tufted surface. Totten. [1913 Webster]

thrum, v. i. [CF. Icel. ruma to rattle, to thunder, and E. drum.].

To play rudely or monotonously on a stringed instrument with the fingers; to strum. [1913 Webster]
Hence, to make a monotonous drumming noise; as, to thrum on a table. [1913 Webster]

thrum, v. t.

To play, as a stringed instrument, in a rude or monotonous manner. [1913 Webster]
Hence, to drum on; to strike in a monotonous manner; to thrum the table. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

thrum, v. & n.
--v. (thrummed, thrumming)
1 tr. play (a stringed instrument) monotonously or unskilfully.
2 intr. (often foll. by on) drum idly.
--n.
1 such playing.
2 the resulting sound.

thrum, n. & v.
--n.
1 the unwoven end of a warp-thread, or the whole of such ends, left when the finished web is cut away.
2 any short loose thread.
--v.tr. (thrummed, thrumming) make of or cover with thrums.

Derivative

thrummer n. thrummy adj.

Etymology

OE f. Gmc

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THESAURUS

thrum

barrage, beat, beat a ruffle, beat a tattoo, beat the drum, beat time, beating, birr, bombilate, bombinate, boom, bum, bumble, burr, buzz, count, count the beats, drone, drum, drum music, drumbeat, drumfire, drumming, flutter, go pitapat, hum, keep time, palpitate, palpitation, paradiddle, patter, pick, pitapat, pitter-patter, play drum, pluck, plunk, pound, pounding, pulsate, pulsation, purr, rat-a-tat, rat-tat, rat-tat-tat, rataplan, rattattoo, roll, rub-a-dub, ruff, ruffle, sound a tattoo, spatter, splatter, splutter, sputter, staccato, strum, sweep the strings, tap, tat-tat, tattoo, throb, throbbing, thump, thumping, tom-tom, twang, whir, whiz

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ROGET THESAURUS

thrum

Musician

VB play, pipe, strike up, sweep the chords, tweedle, fiddle, strike the lyre, beat the drum, blow the horn, sound the horn, wind the horn, doodle, grind the organ, touch the guitar, thrum, strum, beat time, execute, perform, accompany, sing a second, play a second, compose, set to music, arrange, sing, chaunt, chant, hum, warble, carol, chirp, chirrup, lilt, purl, quaver, trill, shake, twitter, whistle, sol-fa, intone, have an ear for music, have a musical ear, have a correct ear.

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