# rum

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɹʌm/ · frequency rank #12,492

## Definitions
1. A spirit distilled from various preparations of sugarcane, particularly fermented cane sugar and molasses.
2. A spirit distilled from various preparations of sugarcane, particularly fermented cane sugar and molasses.
3. A spirit distilled from various preparations of sugarcane, particularly fermented cane sugar and molasses.
4. A similar spirit distilled from similar preparations of sugarbeets, sorghum, etc.
5. A strange person or thing.
6. A country parson.

## Etymology
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word for "strong, potent" which is (perhaps) the source of ramboozle and rumfustian (however, these drinks were not originally made with rum),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)

## Easily confused with
- **RV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rv)
- **RW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rw)
- **run** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-run)
- **rye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rye)
- **rut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rut)
- **Rus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rus)
- **runs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-runs)
- **rush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rush)
- **ruth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-ruth)
- **rust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rust)
- **Russ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-russ)
- **rung** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rung)
- **ruse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-ruse)
- **rump** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rump)
- **rune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rune)
- **Rumi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rumi)
- **rusk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rusk)
- **rumor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rumor)
- **rumba** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rum-vs-rumba)
- **r** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/r-vs-rum)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/rum