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galumph

/gəˈlʌmf/
IPA guide

Other forms: galumphing; galumphed; galumphs

To galumph is to move in a heavy, clumsy, ungainly way. Ballerinas are unlikely to galumph.

Lewis Carroll's poem Jabberwocky introduced many colorful words to English, including this one: "He left it dead, and with its head / He went galumphing back." Originally, galumphing had more of a sense of joy to it, but over time, this word has come to mean only heavy, labored moving. An enormous defensive lineman galumphs across the field. Elephants galumph. Someone struggling to carry bags is galumphing. This word refers to movements that are neither quick nor graceful.

Definitions of galumph
  1. verb
    move around heavily and clumsily
    “the giant tortoises galumphed around in their pen”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    bound, jump, leap, spring
    move forward by leaps and bounds
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