verb. (colloquial).—To storm; also ON THE RAMPAGE = (1) in a state of excitement, from anger, lust, violent movement, or drink. Whence RAMPAGING (RAMPACIOUS or RAMPAGEOUS) = (1) furious, HOT (q.v.), wild, or outrageous: and (2) LOUD (q.v.): whence RAMPAGEOUSNESS. Also RAMPAGER (or RAMPADGEON) = (1) a Hector; (2) a vagabond; and (3) a wencher.
1722. W. HAMILTON, Wallace, 244.
| Psewart RAMPAG’D to see both man and horse, | |
| So sore rebuted and put to the worse. |
1768. A. ROSS, Helenore, 64.
| He RAMPAG’D red-wood, | |
| And lap and danc’d, and was in unco mood. |
1816. SCOTT, The Antiquary, v. The young gentleman was sometimes heard … RAMPANGING about in his room, just as if he was one o’ the player folk.
1823. GALT, Ringan Gilhaize, i. 40. His then present master … was a saint of purity compared to that RAMPAGIOUS cardinal.
1837. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, xxii. A stone statue of some RAMPACIOUS animal, with flowing mane and tail—distinctly resembling an insane cart-horse. Ibid. (1858), Great Expectations, xv. Joe, who followed me out into the road to say, as a parting observation that might do me good, ‘ON THE RAMPAGE, Pip, and OFF THE RAMPAGE, Pip—such is Life!’
1860. TENNYSON, The Village Wife, vii. An’ they RAMPAGED about wi’ their grooms, an’ was ’untin’ arter the men.
1881. W. BLACK, The Beautiful Wretch, xx. If only … Frank got to hear of it, I suppose there would soon be a noble RAMPAGE.
1890. Athenæum, 1 Feb. One there is, a lover-cousin, who out-Herods every one else in ‘RAMPAGIOUSNESS’ and lack of manners.
1890. The Spectator, 28 June. A diplomatist like Prince Bismarck, possessed of that faculty of plain speech, and OUT for the time ‘ON THE RAMPAGE,’ seems to Continental Courts a terror.
