(Not sure where this goes–seems a little ranty for Politics and Elections) Once I figured out thanks to a thread in Factual Questions right here that the word “trump” really does mean “fart” at least in the north of England, I started wondering why more hasn’t been made of this coincidence. Probably the regionality, I guess. If it were in wider use, could he even have gotten started in politics? I mean, we used to tell jokes in grade school about Johnny Fuckerfaster and Franklin Delano Shit (“Your Honor, I’d like to change my name to just plain ‘Joe Shit’”), but imagine if his name were Donald Fart, or Donald Ffartt or something like that–that’s a total non-starter, amirite?
Anyway, because the Straight Dope relies on the written word, my next idea wouldn’t work in this 100% written medium, but I’d like to start using fart noises instead of his name when I speak about him. You know “Did you hear what [fart noise, either axillary or labial] said about General Milley yesterday?” It would be fabulous if the media would buy into this idea, and public figures too. Can you see it in a nationally televised debate? “In four years under [fart noise] our national debt increased by an unprecedented amount, all while [fart noise] kept complaining about the Democrats running up the debt. I tell you folks, you can’t believe anything [fart noise] says…” And the moderator: “[fart noise] your response? You have 30 seconds.”
I guess I never really grew up beyond 4th grade. It beats the hell out of all those silly acronyms and abbreviations that some people use–TFG, PAB and such–that confuse me whenever I see them. A good bloooozer and you’ll know exactly who I’m talking about, right?
“fabricate, devise,” 1690s, from trump “deceive, cheat” (1510s), from Middle English trumpen (late 14c.), from Old French tromper “to deceive,” of uncertain origin. Apparently from se tromper de “to mock,” from Old French tromper “to blow a trumpet.” Brachet explains this as “to play the horn, alluding to quacks and mountebanks, who attracted the public by blowing a horn, and then cheated them into buying …” The Hindley Old French dictionary has baillier la trompe “blow the trumpet” as “act the fool,” and Donkin connects it rather to trombe “waterspout,” on the notion of turning (someone) around. Connection with triumph also has been proposed. Related: Trumped; trumping. Trumped up “false, concocted” first recorded 1728.
The same site has ‘trump (v.1) “surpass, beat,” 1580s, from trump (n.).’
I would assume that the usage comes from ‘trumpet’. (Personally, I often think of ‘trumpet butt’.)
I don’t know how many people know that ‘trump’ has other meanings aside from ‘trump (n.1) “playing card of a suit ranking above others,” 1520s, alteration of triumph (n.), which also was the name of a card game.’ As the saying goes, ‘If you have to explain a joke…’
mid-15c., “deceit, trickery,” from Old French tromperie (14c.), from tromper “to deceive,” of uncertain origin (see trump (v.2), which has influenced the spelling in English). Meaning “showy but worthless finery” is first recorded c. 1600.
I with for a multinational, and when Trump was elected, my grand boss lived in the UK. He made sure we all knew that “trump” means “fart” in his dialect.
But it’s a kind of dumb way to insult the man. And there are so many substantive reasons to insult him.
Even if it’s a dumb way to insult him, the concept of a “brain trump” actually seems apropos, considering the word salad he spits out most of the time.
I’m SO glad you posted this! I’ve always thought of farts when hearing his name. (Maybe I’ve read too much Brit Lit?) In 2016, I read an article (CNN?) that said something like “His name even sounds rich.” I thought, “No, it doesn’t. It sounds like a fart…and a rump.” Plus he’s always looked to me like someone inflated with flatus. Maybe instead of blowing raspberries, we should simply say, “Excuse you” when someone says his name.
