Humpty-dumpty.  1.  A  short  and
thick-set  person,  grundy  (q.v.),  hunch-
back :  see  Forty-guts.  2.  Ale  boiled
with  brandy  (1696).  As  adj.  and
adv.,  short  and  thick,  all  of  a  heap,
all  together.
Hum-strum.  A  musical  instrument
made  of  a  mop-stick,  a  bladder,  and
some  packthread,  thence  also  called


bladder  and  string,  and  hurdy  gurdy  ;
it  is  played  on  like  a  violin,  which  is
sometimes  ludicrously  called  a  hum-
strum  ;  sometimes  instead  of  a  bladder
a  tin  canister  is  used  (Grose).
Hunch.  To  jostle,  shove,  squeeze
(1696).
Hung.  To  be  hung  up,  to  come  to  a
standstill,  be  in  a  fix.
Hungarian.  1.  A  hungry  man,  a
rare  pecker  (q.v.)  (1608).  2.  A  free-
booter.
Hunk.  To  be  (or  get)  hunk  or  all  hunk,
(1)  to  hit  a  mark,  achieve  an  object,  be
safe.  Also  (2)  to  scheme  :  from  Dutch
honk,  goal  or  home.
Hunker  (or  Old  Hunker).  In  New
York  (1844)  a  Conservative  Democrat,
as  opposed  to  the  Young  Democracy  or
Barn-burners  (q.v.).  Hence,  an  anti-
progressive  in  politics.
Hunks.  A  miser,  mean,  sordid
fellow,  curmudgeon.
Hunky.  Good,  jolly :  a  general
superlative :  also  Hunkidorum.
Hunt.  To  decoy  a  pigeon  (q.v.)  to
the  tables.  Hence  hunting,  card-
sharping,  flat -catching  (q.v.)  (1696).
