rum

rum · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromsaccharum
2. Dutch · derived fromroemer
3. English todayrum

In common use since at least 1654, of uncertain origin. Theories include: * that it is a shortening of rumbullion or rumbustion, names for rum also attested in the Caribbean during the mid-17th century, * that it derives from rummer, from Dutch roemer, * that it is from a Romani word for "strong, potent" which is (perhaps) the source of ramboozle and rumfustian (however, these drinks were not originally made with rum), * that it derives from rum ("fine, good") or from the last syllable of Latin saccharum (given the harsh taste of earlier rum, this origin is now considered unlikely)

rum · adjective, noun²

From the earlier form rome (“good”, slang); possibly of Romani origin; compare rom.

rum · noun³

Shortening of rummy.

Rum · proper noun⁴

1. Latin · derived fromRōma“Rome”
2. Late Latin · derived fromRōma“Rome; Constantinople; Roman Empire”
3. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*Rūmō
4. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*Rūmu
5. English todayRum

From Middle English and Old English, from Proto-West Germanic *Rūmu, from Proto-Germanic *Rūmō under influence from Late Latin Rōma (“Rome; Constantinople; Roman Empire”), from Latin Rōma (“Rome”).

Rum · proper noun⁵

1. Latin · derived fromRomani“Romans”
2. Medieval Greek · derived fromῬωμανία“Byzantine Empire”
3. Middle Persian · derived from𐭧𐭫𐭥𐭬
4. Arabic · derived fromرُوم“Rome; Byzantine Empire”
5. Ottoman Turkish · borrowed fromروم“Rome; Byzantine Empire; central Anatolia”
6. English todayRum

From Seljuk Old Anatolian Turkish and Ottoman Turkish روم (Rum, “Rome; Byzantine Empire; central Anatolia”), from Arabic رُوم (rūm, “Rome; Byzantine Empire”), from Middle Persian 𐭧𐭫𐭥𐭬 (Hrom), from Medieval Greek Ῥωμανία (Rhōmanía, “Byzantine Empire”), from Latin Romani (“Romans”), from Roma (“Rome”). Doublet of Roma and Rome.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 16th c. Fine, excellent, valuable.
• 18th c. Strange, peculiar.