d. 1645. Heywood, Drunkard, p. 48 [Gifford]. Notwithstanding the multiplicity of wines, yet there be stills and limbecks going, swetting out aqua vitæ and strong waters, deriving their names from cinnamon, balm, and aniseed, such as stomach-water, humm, etc.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hum-cap, old, mellow and very strong Beer.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
2. (common).—A trick; a delusion; a cheat. Also a lie.
1756. The World, No. 164. Now if this be only a hum (as I suppose it is) upon our country apes, it being blown in the World will put an end to it.
d. 1764. Lloyd, Poems (1774), ‘A Tale.’ There, my good critics, lies the hum.
1806. Lamb, Letters in Wks. (Ed. 1852), ch. v., p. 81. I daresay all this is hum!
1820. Reynolds (P. Corcoran), The Fancy, ‘King Tims the First.’ You or your son have told a bouncing hum.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v. Hum—a whispered lie.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Row in an Omnibus Box.’ It’s ‘No Go!’—it’s ‘Gammon!’—it’s ‘all a Hum!’