rum

¹

[ ruhm ]

noun

1. an alcoholic liquor or spirit distilled from molasses or some other fermented sugar-cane product.
2. alcoholic drink in general; intoxicating liquor:

   He warned against the demon rum.

rum

²

[ ruhm ]

adjective

, Chiefly British Informal.

1. odd, strange, or queer:

   a rum fellow.

2. problematic; difficult; bad:

   a rum situation.

rum

³

[ ruhm ]

noun

, Cards.

1. rummy ¹.

Rum

⁴

[ room ]

noun

1. Arabic name of Rome, once used to designate the Byzantine Empire.

Rum.

⁵

abbreviation for

1. Rumania. See Romania.
2. Rumanian. See Romanian. Also Rum

rum

¹

/ rʌm /

noun

1. spirit made from sugar cane, either coloured brownish-red by the addition of caramel or by maturation in oak containers, or left white

rum

²

/ rʌm /

adjective

1. slang.
   strange; peculiar; odd

rum

³

/ rʌm /

noun

1. short for rummy 1

Derived Forms

• ˈrumness, noun
• ˈrumly, adverb

Other Words From

• rumless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rum¹

First recorded in 1645–55; perhaps short for obsolete rumbullion, rumbustion, of obscure origin

Origin of rum²

First recorded in 1750–60; earlier rome, room “great,” of uncertain origin; perhaps from Romani; Rom

Origin of rum³

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; by shortening

Word History and Origins

Origin of rum¹

C17: perhaps shortened from C16 rumbullion , of uncertain origin

Origin of rum²

C19: perhaps from Romany rom man

Example Sentences

Coffey admitted in court that he supplied the girl with rum and touched her inner thigh and breasts, according to the Department of Justice.

From Los Angeles Times

As much as I am not a sailor, I do understand the power of fresh whipped cream . . . and rum.

From Salon

She nurses her third rum and Diet Coke and says: “Look boys in the eye like you want to steal their wallet.”

From Los Angeles Times

Seek out non-alcoholic liquors such as vodka, tequila, gin or rum.

From Seattle Times

Inside the hotel, Fox News blared on TV at the bar, the gift shop was selling Trump hats, and the menu at the DJT restaurant featured a rum cocktail called “Death by Trial.”

From Los Angeles Times