Bumf is a shortened version of the colloquial ‘bum-fodder’
which most directly refers to toilet paper or any other ‘stuff’ used for the
same or similar purpose.
In recent times, bumf or bumph has generally been used to
refer to unwanted or useless documentation and in particular to pamphlets of
the advertising or political varieties. One can easily conjure images of the stacks
of bumf through which one must dig upon return from vacation. It’s not bad
enough that the vacation is at an end, but now I have to go bumf-diving! Harrumph I say (re: bumf)!
I really like this word except that in relating political
pamphlets to toilet tissue, it elevates the one and denigrates the other.
Toilet tissue, after all, is eminently useful.
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