Obs. [Etymol. uncertain: app. f. BUM sb.1 (cf. the first quot.).] Apparently, a vulgar nick-name for the Ecclesiastical Court.
1544. Suppl. to Hen. VIII., 28. The hearing of testamenterye causes … of sclaunders, of leachery, adultery, and punyshement of bawedrye; and suche other bumme courte matters.
1580. Fulke, Stapl. & Mart. Confuted, 128. These quarrels sir Bachiler, are more meet for the bomme-courts, in which perhaps you are a prating proctor, than for the schools of divinity. Ibid. (1583), Brief Confut., 33. In this saying, if the term of bumcourts seem too light, I yield unto the censure of grave and godly men.
