stump
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noun
1. the bottom part of a tree left projecting from the ground after most of the trunk has fallen or been cut down.
(木の)切り株
the small projecting remnant of something that has been cut or broken off or worn away:
(一般に物の)基部, 根; (折れた)歯の根; (切断されて残った手足の)つけ根; (鉛筆などの)短い使い残し.
e.g. the stump of an amputated arm.
2. Cricket each of the three upright pieces of wood which form a wicket.
〘スポーツ〙 (クリケットで)三柱門(wicket)の柱
3. Art a cylinder with conical ends made of rolled paper or other soft material, used for softening or blending marks made with a crayon or pencil.
擦筆（さっぴつ）〘鉛筆［木炭］画などのぼかしに用いる〙
4. chiefly North American as modifier engaged in or involving political campaigning:
｟主に米｠ ; 〖the ～〗 遊説〘米国の開拓時代に木の切り株に上って演説したことから〙
e.g. he is an inspiring stump speaker. referring to the use of a tree stump, from which an orator would speak.
verb with object
1. informal (usually be stumped) (of a question or problem) be too hard for; baffle:
｟くだけて｠ 〈難しい質問などが〉〈人〉を困らせる, 困惑させる(→ 分詞stumped)
e.g. education chiefs were stumped by some of the exam questions.
(be stumped) be at a loss; be unable to work out what to do or say:
e.g. detectives are stumped for a reason for the attack.
2. no object, with adverbial of direction walk stiffly and noisily:
〖～＋副詞〗 〈人などが〉重い［騒々しい］足取りで歩く (!〖副詞〗は方向などの表現)
e.g. he stumped away on short thick legs.
3. North American travel around (a district) making political speeches:
｟主に米｠ 〈政治家などが〉…を遊説して回る
e.g. there is no chance that he will be well enough to stump the country
｟主に米｠ 〈政治家などが〉遊説する; 【候補者のために】応援演説に出る «for»
e.g. no object : the two men had come to the city to stump for the presidential candidate.
4. Art use a stump on (a drawing, line, etc.).
〈木炭［鉛筆］画など〉を擦筆でぼかす
PHRASES
up a stump
North American informal in a situation too difficult for one to manage.
on the stump
informal engaged in political campaigning.
PHRASAL VERBS
stump something up
British informal pay a sum of money:
e.g. a buyer would have to stump up at least 8.5 million dollars for the site.
ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting a part of a limb remaining after an amputation): from Middle Low German stump(e) or Middle Dutch stomp. The early sense of the verb was ‘stumble’.