Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To make a show of clearing one's throat.
  • intransitive verb To offer usually brief critical comments.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • interjection Alternative spelling of harumph.
  • noun Alternative spelling of harumph.
  • verb Alternative spelling of harumph.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Imitative.]

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Examples

  • It was sort of a "harrumph," but there was no vocalization, only air.

    BSNYC Product Review: Scattante Empire State Courier BikeSnobNYC 2009

  • Davies, though clearly parroting out the Labour party line, was much stronger than Duncan, whose fits of giggles and simpering "harrumph" responses were quite cringemaking.

    Alan Duncan Wins the Newsnight Battle with Quentin Davies 2007

  • It's a collective combined 'harrumph' and 'tut' coming from the heart of middle England, upon hearing the news.

    silicon.com : 2009

  • If it came out Roger Ebert worked for Paramount, it would be a scandal; if it was revealed Game Informer held a monthly eBay auction where game publishers bid on the cover story, gamers would log a jaded "harrumph" on the 'Net, sigh, and go back to asking the clerk at Gamestop for game recommendations.

    Village Voice - The most recent 10 stories 2009

  • Time for what The Landed Underclass calls a "harrumph".

    Libertarian Blog Place 2009

  • The little brother would then stomp his foot on the ground and go "harrumph".

    Knox 2008

  • Eurella "harrumph" ed at that, then said, "The rest of your 'associates' have names?

    Darkness of the Light David_Peter 2007

  • Trapper John on November 24, 2009 - 9: 31 A.M. ... that the Master Shark Baiters would let out a "harrumph" or two at this immature behavior; -)

    Latest from Computerworld Sharky 2009

  • I'll use MY set definition above, since you haven't provided one yet (harrumph).

    A Disclaimer for Behe? 2009

  • "The Fry Chronicles" is so slickly charming it seems churlish to harrumph, so I'll merely take a page out of Mr. Fry's book to comment that his compilation of crotchets can be both compelling and cockamamie.

    True Tales of a Happy Hypocrite Alexandra Mullen 2012

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