adj. (popular).—1. Fat; plump; well-developed. Especially said of high-bosomed and full-figured women: e.g., a CRUMMY piece of goods. [From a provincialism, crum or crom = to stuff, whence CRUMMY = fat or well stuffed.] Fr., fort en mie (an almost literal translation); elle a de ça; Sp., carrilludo = plump-faced.
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). CRUMMY (A.): … also fat, rich, plump, or fleshy.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 14.
| For they saw, notwithstanding Crib’s honest endeavour, | |
| To train down the CRUMMY, ’twas monstrous as ever! |
1828. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Living Picture of London, p. 60. A nice, CRUMMY, young woman, who seemed surprised and interested at his situation.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxix., p. 289. ‘There’s the remains of a fine woman about Sairah, Poll,… Too much CRUMB, you know,’ said Mr. Bailey; ‘too fat, Poll.’
1865. H. KINGSLEY, The Hillyars and the Burtons. You’re CRUMMY and I ain’t a going to deny it. But you ain’t what I’d call fat.
2. (American).—Comely. Cf., sense 1.
3. (thieves’ and soldiers’).—Lousy.
4. (thieves’).—Plump in the pockets. [Probably an extended use of sense 1.]
