rumpus

Definition

A noisy, sometimes violent disturbance; noise and confusion; a noisy quarrel or brawl.

Etymology

Unknown. First use appears c. 1745. The OED indicates: "perhaps an arbitrary formation". Possibly an alteration of rumbustical or rumbustious (“boisterous, noisy”) + Latin -us (“nominative suffix”). The use of the verbal form first appears c. 1839.

Example Sentences

• ""I'd like to know how on earth we are going to finish the case with all this umptydoodle rumpus going on.""
• "But as his rumpus with Mr. Christie entered its second and third rounds, Mr. Rubio appeared to abandon that game plan."
• "I get up, I get down, and I'm jumping around / And the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now / Been a hell of a ride, but I'm thinking it's time to grow / Bang! Bang! Bang!"