Definition

Noun: - A person who illegally transports alcoholic liquor across a border, especially during a period of prohibition. This term is historically associated with individuals who smuggled rum and other spirits.

Usage

• The term "rumrunner" specifically refers to a person engaged in the illegal activity of smuggling liquor. It is a compound noun formed from "rum" and "runner."
• It is most commonly used in a historical context, particularly regarding the Prohibition era in the United States (1920-1933).

Examples

• The coast guard chased the rumrunner's speedboat through the fog.
• During Prohibition, many rumrunners operated between the Bahamas and the Florida coast.
• He was known as a notorious rumrunner who evaded authorities for years.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically to describe someone who engages in any clandestine or illegal transport of goods, though this is less common.
  • In the modern context, some journalists have called the oil smugglers the new rumrunners.

Variants and Related Words

• Rum-running (noun): The act or practice of smuggling rum or other liquor.
  • Rum-running was a lucrative but dangerous business.
• Bootlegger (noun): A person who makes, distributes, or sells illegal alcohol. While similar, a "bootlegger" often implies production or local sales, whereas a "rumrunner" specifically focuses on cross-border transportation.

Synonyms

• Smuggler
• Bootlegger (context-specific)
• Contrabandist

Related Phrases/Idioms

• While there are no common idioms using "rumrunner," the activity is central to phrases like "rum-running operation" or "rum-running ship."
  • The authorities dismantled a major rum-running operation last night.

Noun

1. someone who illegally smuggles liquor across a border