rummage

²rummage

noun

Definition of RUMMAGE

1

a : a confused miscellaneous collection b : items for sale at a rummage sale

2

: a thorough search especially among a confusion of objects

Examples of RUMMAGE

1. <a rummage of textbooks, notebooks, and old school papers all over the desk>

Origin of RUMMAGE

obsolete English romage act of stowing cargo, modification of Middle French arrimage, from arrimer to stow, from a- (from Latin ad-) + -rimer, from Middle English rimen to open up, make room for, from Old English rȳman — more at ream

First Known Use: 1598

Related to RUMMAGE

Synonyms: agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, gumbo, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, patchwork, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, miscellany, salad, salmagundi, scramble, shuffle, smorgasbord, stew, tumble, variety, welter

Related Words: detritus, notions, oddments, odds and ends, sundries; accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomerate, conglomeration; catchall; admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up; bollix, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, dog's breakfast [chiefly British], mess, morass, muddle, shambles; imbroglio, knot, snarl, tangle

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Rhymes with RUMMAGE

scrummage