rum-dum

or rum-dumm

[ ruhm-duhm ]

noun

, Disparaging and Offensive.

1. a stupid or ignorant person.
2. a habitual drinker of alcohol who is frequently intoxicated.

adjective

1. stupid; ignorant.
2. of, related to, or arising from habitual drunkenness; addled by intoxicating drinks.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rum-dum¹

First recorded in 1890–95; rhyming compound with rum ¹ and dumb, perhaps influenced in sense by humdrum

Example Sentences

It was just a simple, basic rhythm—DRUM-dum, RUM- dum, DRUM-bop-bop; DRUM-dum, RUM-dum, DRUM-bop- bop—over and over again.

From Literature

Stams was told that Barry Alvarez, the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, raised his hand and said, “I’ll take the rum-dum.”

From New York Times

He wasn't much of a man—Ben Cameron—weak-eyed, rum-dum—poor too.

From Project Gutenberg