A Rump Parliament Is What Is Left After a Purge
The rump is an animal's hindquarters. The political sense comes from a famous English purge.
The rump is the hind part of an animal, and by extension a small remnant of something larger. The political sense dates precisely: in 1648 Colonel Pride's soldiers barred most members from the English Parliament, and what remained was mocked as the *Rump Parliament* — the tail end of a body. The phrase was an insult that stuck and became the standard historical term. *Rump* is Scandinavian in origin and gives the cut of beef called rump steak.
- An animal's hindquarters. *A rump steak.*
- A remnant. *A rump of the old party.*
- Rump Parliament. *The Rump.*
- Rumpsteak. *Rump steak.*
- Scandinavian origin. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | rump | A rump. |
| Plural | rumps | Rumps. |
| Compound | rump steak | Rump steak. |
| Adjective | rump | A rump state. |
| Danish | rumpe | A rump. |
- A rump steak.Meat.
- The Rump Parliament sat on.History.
- A rump of the old firm.Remnant.
Pride's Purge, 1648
- Colonel Thomas Pride stationed soldiers at the door of Parliament
- Members opposed to trying the king were barred or arrested
- Around 200 of 500 were excluded
- Those remaining were nicknamed the Rump
- They voted to put Charles I on trial
Middle English, of Scandinavian origin, related to Danish *rumpe* and Swedish *rumpa*.
What was the Rump Parliament?
What remained of the English Parliament after Pride's Purge in 1648 excluded members opposed to trying the king.
Does rump mean a remnant generally?
Yes. A rump state or a rump of a party means the small part left after most of it has gone.