rummy

1 of 4

noun (1)

rum·​my ˈrə-mē 

: any of several card games for two or more players in which each player tries to assemble groups of three or more cards of the same rank or of consecutive sequence in the same suit and to be the first to meld them all see also gin rummy

rummy

2 of 4

noun (2)

plural rummies

: drunkard

rummy

3 of 4

adjective (1)

rummier; rummiest

1

: of, involving, or containing rum

a rummy drink

… rummy lunches go on for hours under the palms.

—Town & Country

She loves a good rum cake, and I got one of the rummiest.

—Ivana Martini

2

: affected by or as if by an excessive intake of rum

At higher altitudes, oxygen also helps boost your energy and keeps you from getting rummy.

—Lou Whittaker and Andrea Gabbard

rummy

4 of 4

adjective (2)

rummier; rummiest

chiefly British, informal

: peculiar, odd

One of the rummy things about Jeeves is that, unless you watch like a hawk, you very seldom see him come into a room.

—P. G. Wodehouse

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• alcoholic
• alkie [slang]
• alky
• boozehound
• boozer
• dipsomaniac
• drinker
• drunk
• drunkard
• inebriate
• juicehead [slang]
• juicer [slang]
• lush
• soak
• soaker
• sot
• souse
• tippler
• toper
• tosspot

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

derivative of rum, rhum, an earlier name for the game (of obscure origin), with a suffix of uncertain identity, perhaps -y entry 4

Noun (2)

rum entry 1 + -y entry 4

Adjective (1)

rum entry 1 + -y entry 1

Adjective (2)

rum entry 2 + -y entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1910, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1843, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (1)

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rummy

• gin rummy

• gin rummy

Kids Definition

rummy

noun

rum·​my

ˈrəm-ē

: a card game in which each player tries to lay down cards in groups of three or more