General
plumb
What does plumb mean?
Used as an intensifier meaning "entirely" or "absolutely," as in "plumb crazy." Common across the South and Appalachia.
"You've gone plumb out of your mind."
Origin
From the plumb-line sense "exactly, straight down," which extended to "completely"; this older meaning survives in Southern speech.
Frequently asked questions
What does plumb mean as slang?
As a Southern intensifier, plumb means 'completely,' 'totally,' or 'utterly,' as in 'plumb crazy.'
How do you use plumb?
Put it before an adjective for emphasis, as in 'you've gone plumb out of your mind' or 'I'm plumb tired.'
Where does this sense of plumb come from?
It comes from the plumb-line sense 'exactly, straight down,' which extended to 'completely'; the older meaning survives in Southern speech.
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