1890. Punch, 22 Feb. If I was flush of the ochre, I tell you I’d make the thing hum.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 Aug., p. 2, c. 3. With their advent things begin to hum.
1893. W. T. Stead, Review of Reviews, p. 152. In the opinion of both foes and friends we make things hum.
To hum around, verb. phr. (American).—To call to account; to call over the coals (q.v.).
Human, subs. (old: now American).—A human being. [Also Human Boar]. For synonyms, see Cove. [[378]]
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., ii., 332. Mongst humans by Court dunning.
1783–5. Cowper, Task, ii., line 105. And agonies of human and of brute.
1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xxviii. They have little hovels for their cattle … and a house for the humans as grand as Noah’s Ark.
1882. Daily Telegraph, 13 Dec., p. 2, c. 2. In the opening pages Mr. Matthew Arnold mourns in verse over the death of ‘Poor Matthias,’ who is not a human but a canary.
1888. Denver Republican. He was only a dog … but was much more useful to society than many humans.