I. ˈrəmij, -mēj noun
( -s )
Etymology: obsolete English rummage act of packing or arranging cargo, modification of Middle French arrimage, from arrimer, arimer, aruner to pack or arrange cargo (from a- — from Latin ad- — + -rimer, -rumer, probably of Germanic origin) + -age; akin to Old High German rūm room, space — more at room
1. chiefly Scotland : a noisy bustling turmoil : uproar
2. : a thorough search especially among a variety or confusion of objects or into every section of an area
went off on a back-of-the-store rummage — New Yorker
3.
a. : a confused miscellaneous collection : a nondescript mass or group
a fabulous brown rummage of encyclopedias, world globes, maps, photographs, holy pictures, mirrors … and too much furniture — J.F.Powers
b. or rummage goods : the items for sale at a rummage sale
4. : rummage sale
II. “, esp in pres part -məj verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1.
a. obsolete : to pack or rearrange (as cargo or ballast) in the hold of a ship
b. obsolete : to set in order (as a ship or hold) by rearranging the cargo
2.
a. : to put into confusion : mix up : disorder
b. obsolete : to mix together by stirring : stir
3.
a.
(1) : to make a thorough search in : look through every section of : ransack
one of you boys go rummage the storeroom for the corn popper — S.E.White
(2) : to search thoroughly for contraband
when the import cargo is discharged the examining officer finally rummages the ship — G.D.Ham
b. : to discover by or as if by a thorough search : produce by searching : hunt out
rummaged a sword and red sash from somewhere — Mary B. Chesnut
rummaged up his sexton and his verger as witnesses — J.C.Powys
rummaged a conclusion from some odd corner of his soul — Samuel Butler †1902
c. : to examine minutely and completely : scrutinize carefully
another … prowl through the most thoroughly rummaged era in our history — New Yorker
intransitive verb
1. : to stow or rearrange cargo in or clean the hold of a ship
2.
a. : to make a thorough search or investigation
by dint of rummaging through various special lists and imported series, … it may be possible to assemble the entire series — Edward Sackville-West & Desmond Shawe-Taylor
b. : to engage in an undirected fumbling haphazard search
the men ransacked the thatched huts, rummaged among the pots, the fishing gear, the shell ornaments — Marjory S. Douglas
all my books are packed and gone and … I can't browse or rummage — H.J.Laski
Synonyms: see seek