rum

Meaning

Noun

1. A distilled spirit derived from fermented cane sugar and molasses.
2. A distilled spirit derived from fermented cane sugar and molasses.
3. A distilled spirit derived from fermented cane sugar and molasses.
4. (obsolete,slang) A strange person or thing.
5. (obsolete,slang) A country parson.

Adj

1. (obsolete) Fine, excellent, valuable.
2. (informal) Strange, peculiar.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹʌm/

Etymology

In common use since by at least 1654, of uncertain origin. Theories include:
* that it derives from rum (“fine, good”), or from the last syllable of Latin saccharum (given the harsh taste of earlier rum, the first theory is now considered unlikely),
* that it is a shortening of rumbullion or rumbustion, or
* that it is from a Romani word for "strong, potent" which is (perhaps) the source of ramboozle and rumfustian (but these drinks were not originally made with rum)
* that it derives from rummer, from Dutch roemer