cumber

noun

1. Clipping of cucumber.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English combren, aphetic form of acombren or encombren, borrowed from Old French encombrer, ultimately either from Latin cumulus or Proto-Celtic *kombereti (“to bring together”), from *kom- + *bereti (“to bear”). Cognate with German kümmern (“to take care of”).

1. To slow down; to hinder; to burden; to encumber.

   “Why asks he what avails him not in fight, / And would but cumber and retard his flight?”

   “The multiplying variety of arguments, especially frivolous ones, […] but cumbers the memory.”