Complete Definition of "rummage"

English

Etymology
Old French arrumage (confer French arrimage), from arrumer (confer French arrimer), "to arrange the cargo in the hold". Confer Spanish arrumar.

Pronunciation
audio|En-us-rummage.ogg|audio (US)

Verb
en-verb|rummag|ing

  1. transitive to search something which contains many items hastily by carelessly turning things over or pushing things aside.

#:She rummaged her purse in search for the keys.

  1. transitive to search something thoroughly and with disregard for the way in which things were arranged

#:The burglars rummaged the entire house for cash and jewellery.

  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
trans-top|to search something which contains many items
Finnish: penkoa
trans-mid
German: durchwühlen
trans-bottom

trans-top|to search something thoroughly and with disregard
trans-mid
German: durchwühlen
trans-bottom

trans-top|to hastily search for
French: fouiller
German: wühlen
trans-mid
Italian: rovistare, frugare
trans-bottom

Noun
rummage

  1. (obsolete) commotion; disturbance

Quotations
#:"And this, I take it,
#:
Is the main motive of our preparations
#:The source of this our watch, and the chief head
#:
Of this post-haste and rummage in the land."'' - Horatio, in "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare, act 1 scene 1 l 103-106

Related terms
look
quarry
rake
search

See also
rummage sale

fa:rummage
ko:rummage
io:rummage
it:rummage
ta:rummage
te:rummage
vi:rummage
zh:rummage

Revision and Credits for"rummage"
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