# Why is mum the word? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 7, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224 "2007-12-07T21:35:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/1 "2007-12-07T21:35:58Z")
When it comes to keeping something secret, why do we say “mums the word”? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/2 "2007-12-07T21:46:17Z")
Maybe because “mum” means “mute”? I don’t see much mystery there. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/3 "2007-12-07T22:27:47Z")
I think it comes from the idea of mumming, which IIRC is dancing around silently. There was some mime troupe called Mummenshanz that did this, and in Philadelphia there are ceremonial parading dancers that do this, called the Mummers. ---
**Author:** ![tonedef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@tonedef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonedef)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/4 "2007-12-08T00:02:20Z")
Thanks for these answers. Thats been something I have always wondered! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/5 "2007-12-08T00:15:21Z")
FYI, ‘Mum’ Is how we say ‘Mom’ in the UK so I always read ‘Mums the word’ as if it mean ‘Mother is the word’ And confusion ensued… … Well confusion never actually ensued. I never deemed it important enough to be confused about it. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/6 "2007-12-08T00:32:52Z")
From the [Online Etymology Dictionary](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mum): mum (interj.) 1568, from M.E. mum, mom “silent” (1377), imitative of the sound made with closed lips, as indicative of unwillingness or inability to speak. Phrase mum’s the word is first recorded 1704. From [Shakespeare’s Henry VI, part 2](http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/Henry_VI,_part_2/2.html): “Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum” ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/7 "2007-12-08T10:22:22Z")
[QUOTE=Napier] I think it comes from the idea of mumming, which IIRC is dancing around silently. There was some mime troupe called Mummenshanz that did this, and in Philadelphia there are ceremonial parading dancers that do this, called the Mummers. [/QUOTE] In Rochdale, UK there is one particular time of year when kids come around begging for money/sweets etc. They do not say a word, just come up to you and keep on going “mmmmmmm” all the time. If you give them anything and they thank you then they have to give the gift back. Speaking is strictly verboten ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/8 "2007-12-08T13:29:40Z")
[QUOTE=Napier] I think it comes from the idea of mumming, which IIRC is dancing around silently. There was some mime troupe called Mummenshanz that did this, and in Philadelphia there are ceremonial parading dancers that do this, called the Mummers. [/QUOTE] I don’t think that the Mummers are related to this definition of mum - [the Mummers Parade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Parade) is a pretty noisy place. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/9 "2007-12-08T13:48:42Z")
[QUOTE=Risha] I don’t think that the Mummers are related to this definition of mum - [the Mummers Parade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Parade) is a pretty noisy place. [/QUOTE] [Oh, they are.](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-mum2.htm) Just, you know, some way back. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/10 "2007-12-08T15:36:26Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] From the [Online Etymology Dictionary](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mum): mum (interj.) 1568, from M.E. mum, mom “silent” (1377), imitative of the sound made with closed lips, as indicative of unwillingness or inability to speak. Phrase mum’s the word is first recorded 1704. From [Shakespeare’s Henry VI, part 2](http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/Henry_VI,_part_2/2.html): “Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum” [/QUOTE] That fits with what I’ve always thought, though I’ve never looked it up. It’s the sound people would make when they wanted to tell you to shush, or be quiet, and don’t tell. They’d close their lips and put a finger over them in the “shhh” mode and say “mmm”. Haven’t seen that for a while, though. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/11 "2007-12-08T18:34:39Z")
Wish I could tell you, it’s just that… Well, you know… ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/12 "2007-12-08T21:00:57Z")
\>I don’t think that the Mummers are related to this definition of mum… You know, after I posted, it occurred to me to offer that dozens of banjos playing a nervous and fast “I’m looking over a four leaf clover” has strayed pretty far from history. Now I want to read a thread about the origin of the word “macy”. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/13 "2007-12-09T00:34:05Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] In Rochdale, UK there is one particular time of year when kids come around begging for money/sweets etc. They do not say a word, just come up to you and keep on going “mmmmmmm” all the time. If you give them anything and they thank you then they have to give the gift back. Speaking is strictly verboten [/QUOTE] That’s a horror movie just begging to be made. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/14 "2007-12-09T03:38:47Z")
I never thought it was “Mum is the word”. I always read it as a verb- “[It] mums the word.” ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/15 "2007-12-09T05:01:37Z")
How about “on the QT”? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/16 "2007-12-09T06:38:49Z")
I always thought Grease was the word. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/17 "2007-12-09T11:50:26Z")
Because everyone knows Mum is in charge. If she says shut up then you SHUT UP! ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/18 "2007-12-09T12:06:45Z")
I always thought the bird’s the word. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/19 "2007-12-09T15:03:09Z")
Thunderbird! ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/20 "2007-12-10T05:17:39Z")
[QUOTE=Cicero] I always thought Grease was the word. [/QUOTE] Naw, couldn’t be. It has too much groove and meaning. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224.md?page=2)