English
rummage
see also: Rummage
Pronunciation
  • (British, America) IPA: /ˈɹʌm.ɪdʒ/
Verb

rummage (rummages, present participle rummaging; past and past participle rummaged)

  1. (transitive, nautical) To arrange (cargo, goods, etc.) in the hold of a ship; to move or rearrange such goods.
  2. (transitive, nautical) To search a vessel for smuggled goods.
    After the long voyage, the customs officers rummaged the ship.
  3. (transitive) To search something thoroughly and with disregard for the way in which things were arranged.
    She rummaged her purse in search of the keys.
    The burglars rummaged the entire house for cash and jewellery.
    • He […] searcheth his pockets, and taketh his keys, and so rummageth all his closets and trunks.
    • What schoolboy of us has not rummaged his Greek dictionary in vain for a satisfactory account!
    1. (intransitive) To hastily search for something in a confined space and among many items by carelessly turning things over or pushing things aside.
      She rummaged in the drawers trying to find the missing sock.
Translations Translations Translations Noun

rummage (plural rummages)

  1. (obsolete) Commotion; disturbance.
  2. A thorough search, usually resulting in disorder.
    • He has such a general rummage and reform in the office of matrimony.
  3. An unorganized collection of miscellaneous objects; a jumble.
  4. (nautical) A place or room for the stowage of cargo in a ship; also, the act of stowing cargo; the pulling and moving about of packages incident to close stowage; formerly written romage.
Related terms
Rummage
Proper noun
  1. Surname


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