Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by petepete 3000 days ago
Not to this one, mum means to stay silent (mum as in 'mmm', not your mother). Even Shakespeare used it in Henry VI

> Seal up your lips and give no words but mum
1 comments
jacobolus 3000 days ago
'mum' meaning silent dates from the 15th century. 'mum' meaning 'mother' (in England) dates from the 17th century.

Various English posters and signs in WWII warned readers to 'be like dad – keep mum'.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/INF3-243...

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/be-like-dad-ke...

link
a_e_k 3000 days ago
Yep. And of course "Mum's the word!"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mum%27s_the_word

Though in terms of Shakespeare, my favorite bit on keeping quiet is actually Iago's last line: "Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: From this time forth I never will speak word." My wife and I tend to quote it around Christmas and birthdays. :-)

link