An archaic or contemptuous term for a worthless person or a fool.
Formed from 'bum' (inferior or worthless) combined with 'bass' or 'ass' (a stupid person), this compound emerged as slang insult in Early Modern English.
Like 'bumbailiff,' this word shows how English speakers created insults by stacking contemptuous words together—if one bad word wasn't enough, they'd double up for emphasis.
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