Definition

1. Adjective (informal, chiefly British):

   • Strange, odd, or peculiar: Describes something or someone that is unusual, eccentric, or difficult to understand.

2. Noun:

   • A card game: A card game for two or more players where the objective is to form sets (groups of cards of the same rank) and sequences (consecutive cards of the same suit). The winner is the first player to "meld" (lay down) all their cards.
   • A chronic drinker (dated, informal): A person who habitually drinks alcohol to excess; a drunkard.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:

  • He's a rummy old fellow, always talking to his plants.
  • There's something rummy about this whole situation; it doesn't add up.

• Noun (Card Game):

  • We played three hands of rummy last night.
  • Gin rummy is a popular two-player variant of the game.

• Noun (Drinker) (dated usage):

  • The old rummy spent his days on a park bench with a bottle.

Advanced Usage

• The adjective form is considered informal and somewhat old-fashioned, more common in British English.
• As a noun for a drinker, the term is now considered archaic and potentially offensive.

Variants and Related Words

• Gin rummy: A popular two-player variant of the rummy card game.
• Rum : Having a similar meaning of "odd" or "strange" (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Adjective: Odd, peculiar, strange, queer, funny, curious.
• Noun (Game): Card game.
• Noun (Drinker): Drunkard, alcoholic, inebriate .

Notes on Different Meanings

The two primary noun meanings (card game and drinker) are entirely distinct and unrelated in modern usage. Context is essential to determine which meaning is intended. The adjective meaning relates to the archaic sense of "rum" meaning strange.

Adjective

1. beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
   • a curious hybrid accent
   • her speech has a funny twang
   • they have some funny ideas about war
   • had an odd name
   • the peculiar aromatic odor of cloves
   • something definitely queer about this town
   • what a rum fellow
   • singular behavior

Noun

1. a card game based on collecting sets and sequences; the winner is the first to meld all their cards
2. a chronic drinker