“Mum”

How many definitions of “mum” do you know? There may be more than you think. (There were certainly more than I knew.) As always, these come from Merriam-Webster. 

“Mum” is the chiefly British spelling of “mom.” It’s also a flower. But those are easy. Did you know that it’s also a strong ale or beer? 

As a verb, “to mum” means to perform in a pantomime, or to go about merrymaking in disguise during festivals. 

It’s also an adjective, meaning “silent.” 

And there you have it: five definitions for the word “mum.” How many did you know?