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.

Rum

⁴

[room]

noun

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

Rum.

⁵

abbreviation

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

Other Word Forms

• rumless adjective
• rumness noun
• rumly adverb

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

It says a cargo ship carrying rum and olive oil from Europe to Central America is about to set sail - and it needs a cook.

From BBC

All I have in my stomach is the rum and coke my neighbor handed me when I got home.

From Los Angeles Times

Dancers in bright costumes filled the streets as music filled the air, while rows of stalls offered fragrant jerk chicken, curry goat and rum punch cocktails.

From BBC

But if you’re planning on moving things indoors, then try adding a splash of rum or tequila to boozify your drink.

From Salon

The skies were as blue as the famous waters of Lake Tahoe when Gloria Brigantino and her friends decided to anchor and get a rum cocktail.

From BBC