adj. (old: now recognised).—Sullen; down in the mouth; stern. Fr.: faire son nez = to look glum; also, n’en pas mener large.
1712. ARBUTHNOT, The History of John Bull, pt. IV., ch. vii. Nic. looked sour and GLUM, and would not open his mouth.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
17[?]. Broadside Ballad, ‘Sam Hall.’
| The parson he will come, | |
| And he’ll look so bloody GLUM. |
1816. JOHNSON, A Dictionary of the English Language. GLUM, s.v., a low cant word formed by corrupting ‘gloom.’
1847. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, ii., ch. vi. ‘I wonder whether Lady Southdown will go away; she looked very GLUM upon Mrs. Rawdon,’ the other said.
1888. Referee, 21 Oct.
| Who found him looking GLUM and grey, | |
| And thought his accent gruff and foreign. |
1892. A. W. PINERO, The Times, v., i. What are you so GLUM about.
