Green’s Dictionary of Slang

enormous, very large.

1576		A. Fleming Panoplie of Epistles 402: He vseth great and thumping words [OED].
1630		J. Taylor ‘Taylors Goose’ in Works (1869) I 109: The rip rap, thwick thwack thumping thunderer.
1694		French Rogue 183: Two thumping Boys that were brought me, neatly plac’d in a Basket.
a.1700		‘Courageous Betty of Chick-Lane’ in Chappell Roxburghe Ballads (1880) III 605: [She] valiantly fought, / With two thumping lusty Taylors, / Taking away their bodkin and shears.
1709		N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 261: A fifth would report, under a thumping Oath, that he had never worn a Waistcoat these seven Years.
1715		S. Centlivre Gotham Election I i: Here’s your Godson, Sir, a fine thumping Boy.
c.1720		‘Loving Couple’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 231: But e’er three Months they had married been, / A Thumping Boy popp’d out.
1730		Fielding Tom Thumb Epilogue: I may prove, in time, a thumping Sinner.
a.1760		‘Hurlothrumbo’ Bog-house Misc. 17: Nor M---k, nor will Dolly come; / Nor Sukey with her thumping B--m.
1772		Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 82: This is a thumping hole, by mass!
1788		Morris et al. ‘Learned Pig’ in Festival of Anacreon (1810) 47: With a thumping colt’s-tooth in her head.
1798		T. Morton Speed the Plough IV i: And han’t I a thumping zilver watch, almost as big as thy head?
1809		B.H. Malkin (trans.) Adventures of Gil Blas (1822) IV 74: Nothing vexes me, but that Antonia has not a thumping fortune to bring with her.
1814		J. Wetherell Adventures of John Wetherell (1954) 18 Jan. 206: His brawny shoulders four feet square / his cheeks like thumping red potatoes.
1821		‘A Real Paddy’ Real Life in Ireland 16: Cheeks like thumping red potatoes.
c.1835		‘Red Nosed Jemmy and Bandy Bet’ in Speaight Bawdy Songs (1975) 74: In nine months time, to crown her joy, / She brought in the world a thumping boy.
1837		Sligo Champion 11 Mar. 1/3: Paddy Lambert, a thumping, potato-faced Irishman.
1846		‘Repeal of the Corn Laws’ in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 95: Such thumping loaves you soon will see.
1854		Bell’s Life in Sydney 23 Dec. 2/7: A thumping big Irish trap named Haydon.
1858		A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 183: It seemed to be the general opinion that Mr. Tongs had overrated his capabilities, as he would find out by the ‘thumping damages’ when the cause came to be heard.
1864		G.A. Sala Quite Alone III 82: I pay her a thumping salary.
1870		W.E.A. Axon Billy O’ Bent’s Berryin’ 3: They’re so sma’ ’at nobry ’ud look for ’em beawt aw’d gi’ thee a thumpin’ reward.
1878		Lincs. Chron. 27 Nov. 6/7: [headline] A Thumping Legacy.
1887		W.S. Gilbert ‘Yarn of the “Nancy Bell”’ Fifty ‘Bab’ Ballads 50: And having got rid of a thumping quid, / He spun this painful yarn.
1889		Dead Bird (Sydney) 27 July 1/3: And come back to Australian lands / With a ‘thumping contract’ in his hands.
1890		Bulletin (Sydney) 19 July 5/4: When courts are sitting and work is flush / I hurry about in a frantic rush. / I take your brief and I look to see / That the same is marked with a thumping fee.
1898		Binstead & Wells Pink ’Un and Pelican 191: He [...] retaliated by asking the Bench if it didn’t think it a d——d good name for one who had got through three thumping legacies!
1902		R. Stewart ‘In the Dead-Letter Office‘ in Bulletin Reciter n.p.: Come, rip the mail-bags open [...] A thumping mail again from Perth .
1907		Western Champion (Barcaldine, Qld) 16 Mar. 12/2: he was fined the thumping sum of £18 10s.
1919		E. Dyson ‘Weepin’ Willie’ in ‘Hello, Soldier!’ 50: Well, they pinked him one fine mornin’ with a thumpin’ ’unk iv shell.
1928		V. Palmer Passage 271: My God, I’m giving a thumping big price for mine!
1939		K. Tennant Foveaux 75: He was returned year after year with a thumping majority.
1945		J. Betjeman ‘In a Bath Teashop’ in New Bats in Old Belfries She, such a very ordinary little woman; / He, such a thumping crook.
1959		A. Sinclair My Friend Judas (1963) 107: An audience was to him the next best thing to a thumping cheque.
1989		A. Higgins ‘Sodden Fields’ in Helsingør Station and Other Departures 60: Puffing a thumping big King Edward corona.
2000		Guardian G2 7 Mar. 16: The sleepy district which last week defied electoral precedent and returned her with a thumping majority.