(see ROMP), subs. (old).—1. A wanton; a whore: see TART; and (2) = lascivious horseplay. As verb. = to wanton, to BACK UP (q.v.); and RAMPANT (or RAMPISH: PALSGRAVE, 1530) = wanton (B. E., c. 1696). Cf. COTGRAVE, s.v. Rampeau. Droict de rampe, A priviledge, or power. A lecher.
1548. EDWARD HALL, The Union of the Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre and York, Henry the Sixt. (an. 6). Ione … was a RAMPE of such boldnesse, that she would course horses and ride theim to water, and do thinges, that other yong maydens both abhorred and wer ashamed to do.
1550. UDALL, Roister Doister, ii. 4. Good wenches would not so RAMPE abrode ydelly.
1551. STILL, Gammer Gurton’s Needle, iii. 3 [DODSLEY, Old Plays (REED), ii. 43]. Gammer. Nay, fy on thee thou RAMPE, thou ryg.
1591. J. LYLY, Sapho and Phaon, iii. 1. What victlers follow Bacchus campes? Fools, fidlers, panders, pimpes, and RAMPES.
1593. G. HARVEY, Pierce’s Supererogation [Wks., II. 229]. Although she were a lustie bounsing RAMPE, somewhat like Gallemella, or maide Marian.
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Galluta … a cockling wench, a RAMP.
1605. SHAKESPEARE, Cymbeline, i. 6.
| Iach. Should he make me | |
| Live, like Diana’s priest, betwixt cold sheets, | |
| Whiles he is vaulting variable RAMPS, | |
| In your despite, upon your purse? |
1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, iv. 3. Peace, you foul RAMPING jade!
1673. Honour’s Invitation. To duel RAMPANT Miss on a soft Bed.
1732. FIELDING, The Miser, iv. 15. The young fellows of this age are so RAMPANT that even degrees of kindred cannot restrain them.
1749. SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 69. a charming woman … open to all mankind…. Let me see how many RAMPANT chaps have been brought to their bearings … without the … husband being waked out of his evening nap.
3. (thieves’).—A robbery with violence (VAUX, 1812); (4) = a swindle; whence (5) = a footpad; and (6) = a trickster: also RAMPSMAN and RAMPER: cf. RUSH. As verb. = (1) to rob with violence; (2) to blackmail; and (3, racing) to bet against one’s own horse; RAMPING (adj.) = violent; RAMPING-MAD = noisily drunk; TO RAMP AND REAVE = to get by fair means or foul (HALLIWELL).
1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1. And RAMP so plummy.
1840. BULWER-LYTTON, Paul Clifford, viii. The latter personage, giving him a pinch in the ear, shouted out “RAMP, RAMP!” and Paul found himself surrounded in a trice by a whole host of ingenious tormentors … this initiatory process, technically termed “RAMPING,” reduced the bones of Paul, who fought tooth and nail in his defence, to the state of magnesia.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon. It is their business to jostle or RAMP the victim, while the file picks his pocket.
1880. G. R. SIMS, How the Poor Live, x. These … were mostly ‘RAMPS,’ or swindles, got up to obtain the gate-money.
1883. Punch, 26 May, 252, 1. “Look ’ere, this hinnocent cove has been trying a RAMP on!” Crowd. Welsher! kill him! Welsher!
1885. Chambers’s Journal, 28 Feb., 136. He is a RAMPER and bully to a couple of outside betting-men.
1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 7. A man who is a racecourse thief and RAMPER hailed me affably.
1889. KIPLING, Cleared [in The Scots Observer]. They never told the RAMPING crowd to card a woman’s hide.
7. (thieves’).—A hall-mark. [A ‘rampant lion’ forms part of the essay stamp for gold and silver.]
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail [Macmillan’s Magazine, xl. 500]. They told me all about the wedge, how I should know it by the RAMP.
