O.E. cruma, from a W.Gmc. root of obscure origin. The -b- appeared c.1450, in part by analogy with words like dumb, in part from crumble. Slang meaning "lousy person" is 1918, from crumb, U.S. slang for "body-louse" (1863), so called from resemblance.
n. a repellent person. (From an old slang word for a body louse. Most of the crum(b) entries refer to lice or lousy.) : The old man was a real crumb and tried to cheat us.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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crumb definition
data, jargon (Or tayste /tayst/) Silly suggested term for two binary digits. The term "quarter" has also been suggested, referring to the US 25-cent coin. This was once equal in value to two of the eight "bits" - pie-slice-shaped "pieces of eight" - into which Spanish silver crowns were cut to make change. [Jargon File] (2007-05-31)