Rum

or rome, roome, ram, adj. (old cant).—1.  A generic appreciative; good; fine; clever; excellent; strong, &c.: cf. sense 2 and QUEER; RUMLY = bravely, cleverly, delicately. Thus RUM-BEAK (or -BECK) = a Justice of the Peace; RUM-BING (or -BUNG) = a full purse; RUM-BIT (or -BITE) = (1) a clever rogue, and (2) a smart trick; RUM BLEATING-CHEAT = a fat wether; RUM-BLOWEN (or -BLOWER) = a handsome mistress; RUM-BLUFFER = a jolly host; RUM-BOB = (1) a young apprentice, (2) a clever trick, and (3) a smart wig; RUM-BOOZE (-BOUSE, -BUSE, -BUZE, or BOUZE) = (1) wine, or (2) good liquor of divers kinds; RUM-BOOZING-WELT = a bunch of grapes; RUM-BUBBER = a good thief; RUM-BUFFER (or -BUGHER) = a valuable dog; RUM-CHANT = a good song; RUM-CHUB = (butchers’) an ignorant buyer; RUM-CLANK = a gold or silver cup; RUM-CLOUT (or WIPE) = a silk handkerchief; RUM-COD = (1) a full purse, and (2) a large sum of money; RUM-COLE = new money; RUM-COVE (or -CULL) = (1) a clever rogue, (2) a rich man, (3) a lover, and (4) an intimate: also RUM-CULL (theatrical) = a manager, or boss; RUM-DEGEN (-TOL, or -TILTER) = a splendid sword; RUM-DELL (-DOXY or -MORT) = a handsome whore; RUM-DIVER = a clever pickpocket; RUM-DRAWERS = silk stockings; RUM-DROPPER = a vintner; RUM-DUKE = (1) a handsome man, (2) a jolly companion, and (3) see quot. 1696 and also sense 2; RUM-DUCHESS = a handsome woman; RUM-DUBBER (or -FILE) = an expert picklock; RUM-FAM (or FEM) = a diamond ring; RUM-FUN = a clever fraud; RUM-GELT (or -GILT) = new money; RUM-GILL = (1) a clever thief, and (2) a handsome man; RUM-GAGGER = a whining beggar; RUM-GLYMMER = a chief link-boy; RUM-GOING = fast trotting; RUM-GUTLERS = canary; RUM-HOPPER = an innkeeper; RUM-KICKS = silver or gold-braided breeches; RUM-KEN = a popular inn or brothel; RUM-KIN = a large mug; RUM-MAUNDER = a clever beggar; RUM-MIZZLER = a thief expert at CLEARING (q.v.); RUM-MORT = a lady; RUM-ONE = a settling blow; RUM-NAB = a good hat; RUM-NANTZ = brandy; RUM NED = a rich fool; RUM-PAD = the highway; RUM-PADDER = a highwayman; RUM-PEEPER = a silver looking-glass; RUM-PECK = good food; RUM-PRANCER = a fine horse; RUM-QUIDDS = a large booty; RUM-RUFFPECK = Westphalian ham; RUM-SQUEEZE = fiddlers’ drink in plenty; RUM-SNITCH = a hard blow on the nose; RUM-TOPPING = a rich head-dress; RUM-VILLE = London.—AWDELEY (1560); HARMAN (1567); ROWLANDS (1610); HEAD (1665); B. E. (c. 1696); COLES (1724); BAILEY (1726); PARKER (1781); GROSE (1785); VAUX (1812); BEE (1823).

  1567.  HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, 86. Byng we to ROME VYLE.

  1607.  DEKKER, Jests to Make You Merie in Wks. (GROSART), II. 308. A RUM COVES BUNG (so called in their canting vse of speech) (and as much as to say in ours, a rich chuffes purse).

  1610.  ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, ‘Toure Out Ben Morts.’

  1611.  MIDDLETON and DEKKER, The Roaring Girle, v. 1. So my bousy nab might skew ROME BOUSE.

  1612.  DEKKER, O per se O, ‘Bing out, bien Morts.’

  1641.  R. BROME, A Joviall Crew, ‘Morts’ Drinking Song.’ This bowse is better than ROM-BOWSE.

  1653.  URQUHART, Rabelais, II. i. Note. Piot a common cant word used by French clowns and other tippling companions; it signifies RUM-BOOZE as our gypsies call good-guzzle.

  1656.  BLOUNT, Glossographia, 538. RAMBUZE. A compound drink at Cambridge, and is commonly made of eggs, ale, wine, and sugar; but in summer, of milk, wine, sugar, and rose-water.

  1664.  COTTON, Scarronides, or, Virgil Travestie (1st ed.), 108.

  1665.  R. HEAD, The English Rogue [RIBTON-TURNER, 621]. We straight took ourselves to the Boozing ken; and having bubb’d RUMLY, we concluded an everlasting friendship.

  1688.  SHADWELL, The Squire of Alsatia, ii. [Works (1720), iv. 47]. Belf. Sen. … Here’s a nabb! you never saw such a one in your life. Cheat. A RUM NABB: it is a beaver of £5.

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, passim. Also, more particularly, s.v. RUM-DUKES, c. the boldest or stoutest Fellows (lately) amongst the Alsatians, Miniers, Savoyards, &c. Sent for to remove and guard the Goods of such Bankrupts as intended to take Sanctuary in those Places. Ibid., s.v. PECK. The Gentry Cove tipt us RUM PECK and rum Gutlers, till we were all Bowsy, and snapt all the Flickers.

  1706.  FARQUHAR, The Recruiting Officer, ii. 3. You are a justice of peace, and you are a king, and I am a duke, and a RUM DUKE, a’n’t I?

  1707.  J. SHIRLEY, The Triumph of Wit, ‘Rum-Mort’s Praise of Her Faithless Maunder.’

  1724.  J. HARPER, ‘Frisky Moll’s Song’ in THURMOND’S Harlequin Sheppard [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 41]. I Frisky Moll, with my RUM COLL.

  1760.  Old Song, ‘Come All You Buffers Gay’ [The Humourist, 2].

  1781.  G. PARKER, A View of Society, II. 174. RUM-MIZZLERS. Fellows who are clever in making their escape. Ibid. (c. 1789), Cantata, ‘The Sandman’s Wedding.’ For he’s the kiddy RUM and queer.

  1819.  T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 76.

  c. 1819.  Old Song, ‘The Song of the Young Prig’ [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 83].

  1821.  P. EGAN, Life in London, II. iii. From a RUM KEN we bundled.

  1821.  W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, ii. 6. Now, your honours, here’s the RUM PECK, here’s the supper.

  1825.  T. JONES, The True Bottom’d Boxer [The Universal Songster, ii. 96]. Spring’s the boy for RUM GOING and coming it. Ibid. You’ll find him a RUM-’UN, try on if you can.

  1830.  W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1. We frisk so RUMMY. Ibid. We chaunt so RUMMY. Ibid., i. 2. Good night, my RUM-’UNS. Ibid., i. 1. RUMMY Spitalfields wipes.

  1834.  W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood (1864), 180. RUM GILLS and Queer Gills, Patricos, Palliards, &c. Ibid., 60. With them the best RUMPADS of England are not to be named the same day! Ibid., 199. I want a little ready cash in RUMVILLE—beg pardon, ma’am, London I mean. Ibid., 190. I know you can throw off a RUM CHANT … I heard you sing last night at the hall.

  1844.  C. SELBY, London by Night, i. 2. What’s in the wind, my RUM CULL.

  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I. 341. Not one swell in a score would view it in any light than a REAM concern.

  1886.  STEPHENS and YARDLEY, Little Jack Sheppard, 37.

  2.  (common).—In modern slang (by inversion) RUM = indifferent; bad; questionable; odd: as adj. RUMMY (or RUMLY). Whence (3) RUM = anybody or anything odd or singular in habit, appearance, &c.; RUM-NED = a silly fellow (B. E.); RUM DUKE = a half-witted churl (but see sense 1); TO COME IT RUM = to act (or talk) strangely.

  1729.  SWIFT, The Grand Question Debated. A rabble of tenants, and rusty dull RUMS.

  1772.  BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 155.

  17[?].  Old Song [Notes and Queries, 7 S., ix. 97].

  1781.  G. PARKER, A View of Society, I. 48. ‘Blow me up (says he) if I have had a fellow with such RUM TOGGYS cross my company these many a day.’

  1782.  J. NICHOLS, Biographical and Literary Anecdotes of William Bowyer, v. 471. The books, which booksellers call RUMS, appear to be very numerous,… yet that they are not really so.

  1803.  C. K. SHARPE [Correspondence (1888), i. 18]. They were angry with RUMS, they were troubl’d with bores.

  1819.  T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, ‘Jack Holmes’s Song.’

  1829.  C. A. SOMERSET, The Day After the Fair, i. Clod. [Aside.] Well, dang it! though she’s a RUM one to look at, she’s a good one to go.

  1836.  DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, xvi. “You’re a RUM ’un to look at, you are,” thought Mr. Weller.

  1840.  R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (Legend of Hamilton Tighe).

  1877.  BESANT and RICE, This Son of Vulcan, II. xxvii. How much? It’s a RUMMY ramp—but how much?

  1882.  T. A. GUTHRIE (‘F. Anstey’), Vice Versâ, xi. There’s young Tom on the box; don’t his ears stick out RUMMILY?

  1888.  BOLDREWOOD, Robbery under Arms, i. What a RUM thing a man should laugh when he’s only got twenty-nine days more to live.

  1892.  KIPLING, Barrack-Room Ballads, ‘Route Marchin’.’ There’s that RUMMY silver-grass.

  1899.  R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, v. RUMMY lot dahn there.