[stump] n [ME stumpe; akin to OHG stumpf stump and perh. to ME stampen to stamp] (14c) 1 a: the basal portion of a bodily part remaining after the rest is removed b: a rudimentary or vestigial bodily part
2: the part of a plant and esp. a tree remaining attached to the root after the trunk is cut
3: a remaining part: stub
4: one of the pointed rods stuck in the ground to form a cricket wicket
5: a place or occasion for public speaking (as for a cause or candidate); also: the circuit followed by a maker of such speeches--used esp. in the phrase on the stump
[2]stump vt (1596) 1: to reduce to a stump: trim
2. a: dare, challenge b: to frustrate the progress or efforts of: baffle
3: to clear (land) of stumps
4: to travel over (a region) making political speeches or supporting a cause
5. a: to walk over heavily or clumsily b: stub 3 ~ vi 1: to walk heavily or clumsily
2: to go about making political speeches or supporting a cause -- stump.er n [3]stump n [F or Flem; F estompe, fr. Flem stomp, lit., stub, fr. MD; akin to OHG stumpf stump] (1778): a short thick roll of leather, felt, or paper usu. pointed at both ends and used for shading or blending a drawing in crayon, pencil, charcoal, pastel, or chalk [4]stump vt (1807): to tone or treat (a drawing) with a stump