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

The pirates, with swords in the air and the scent of rum on their collective breath, pursued.

Read more on Literature

Light and fluffy, the rum flavor was pronounced.

Read more on Salon

The ghoulish heads are then combined with store bought cider, lemonade and rum in a large punchbowl.

Read more on Salon

Sales of the group’s Wild Turkey bourbon grew 14% over the third quarter, and while its rum and tequila brands also enjoyed higher sales.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.

Read more on BBC