The B in Crumb Was Added by Mistake
A crumb is a small fragment of bread. The silent b was never pronounced and was inserted by analogy with other words.
A crumb is a small fragment of bread or cake. The b is a sixteenth-century addition that has never been pronounced: the Old English word was *cruma*, and scribes added the letter by analogy with *dumb* and *numb*, where the b was once sounded. English is full of such decorative letters — the s in *island* and the b in *debt* were added by people who wanted words to look more Latin. The verb *crumble* keeps the b silent too.
- A fragment of bread. *Brush off the crumbs.*
- A tiny amount. *Not a crumb of comfort.*
- To coat in crumbs. *Crumbed chicken.*
- Crumble — to break into pieces. *The wall crumbled.*
- Breadcrumbs — the coating. *Coat in breadcrumbs.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | crumb | One crumb. |
| Plural | crumbs | Cake crumbs. |
| Verb | crumb | Crumb the fish. |
| Verb | crumble | It crumbled. |
| Old English | cruma | A fragment. |
- There were crumbs all over the table.Literal.
- Not a crumb of evidence.Figurative.
- The b has never been pronounced.Spelling.
Letters added for looks
- Crumb — b added by analogy with dumb and numb
- Debt and doubt — b added to match Latin *debitum* and *dubitare*
- Island — s added to match *isle*, though the word is Old English
- Scissors — c added under the influence of Latin *scindere*
- Rhyme — h added to match *rhythm*
Old English *cruma*, a fragment, from a Germanic root. The silent b appeared in the 1500s by analogy with words like *dumb*.
Why is there a b in crumb?
It was added in the 1500s by analogy with dumb and numb. It has never been pronounced in English.
What is a crumble?
In British cooking, a baked dessert of fruit under a topping of rubbed flour, butter and sugar.