1840 Proc. Mass. State Temperance Convent. 21 He hoped that the Convention would act upon this subject—would do something—otherwise the rummies would be much pleased.

1860 R. W. Emerson Power in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 59 He led the ‘rummies’ and radicals in town-meeting with a speech.

1890 C. L. Norton Polit. Americanisms 96 Rummies, a local name for the political opponents of the temperance party in Maine.

1902 Myrtle (Boston, Mass.) 25 Jan. 15/1 Said the Man to the Saloon-Keeper, ‘Your execrable trade Is teaching all my rulers their own laws to evade,’ And the Rummy answered, ‘Personal liberty!’

1928 G. Weinstein Ardent Eighties vii. 39 They used to tell me though, that many a comp was driven to drink by setting type on prohibition warnings, but this may have been only a wet excuse for the ‘rummies’ in those days.

2008 G. Marquis in H. Foster et al. Grand Experim. xii. 235 The constitutional issue took second seat to the unpopularity of the prohibition law. The Rummies won a slim majority.

1909 Yale Lit. Mag. Feb. 222 The few who had met him spoke of him as a ‘bit queer’, and those who had not met him called him a ‘Rummy’.

1975 G. V. Higgins City on Hill iv. 117 At least the rummies that swing it in Dorchester're alive.

1977 J. Wambaugh Black Marble (1978) vi. 72 She always had to look at the rummy to see if he was putting her on.

1977 J. Wambaugh Black Marble (1978) vi. 72 It must be dope... This rummy's a doper!

1910 Marshall (Mich.) Chron. 27 Aug. 4/4 The evening was devoted to conversation and playing rummy, and refreshments were served.

1911 Sun (N.Y.) 10 Sept. ii. 3/1 The leader this season seems to be a new round game that is called rum. Some persons have it rhum, rhummy and even rhumston.

1919 S. Lewis Free Air xix. 202 He takes some kind of dope, and he cheats at rummy.

1974 Harrods Gift Catal. 60/1 Packs of cards to play Bingo, Crosswords, Rummy and a variety of games.

2008 D. Mueenuddin in New Yorker 1 Dec. 72/1 ‘So, Bibi, for a while you won't be plucking me clean at rummy. Or they'll give me bed rest, and we'll play even more, and soon you'll have salted away a nice fat dowry’.

1742 A. Hill Let. 12 Aug. in Wks. (1753) II. 143 The spirit comes down with a keen pleasant piquancy, like arrack, in place of that nauseous, coarse, rummy flavour.

1843 Amer. Pioneer 2 372 He departed, muttering curses loud and deep, and in a voice peculiarly rummy.

1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) A rummy flavour.

1913 K. D. Wiggin Story of Waitstill Baxter viii. 80 Instead of being out of doors, I've got to be shut up in that smelly, rummy, tobacco-y, salt-fishy, pepperminty place!

1946 W. A. White Autobiogr. 335 His face was blotched with brown spots, his bleary eyes were rummy, his jaw was uncertain.

2003 J. Brush Place without Postcard xvii. 155 A rummy smell that didn't go away when Jakes screwed the cap back on the bottle.

1834 Jamestown (N.Y.) Jrnl. 29 Jan. 1/5 The Massachusetts Masons,..like the rummy deacon, who fell from his horse—have merely ‘got off to get on better’.

1922 R. J. White Six Yrs. Hammock Land ix. 96 We wish him to live a long and healthy life;..we do not desire to see him wrecked and ruined by a rummy civilization.

1941 H. L. Mencken Diary 3 Nov. (1989) 170 A rummy old Episcopal rector who had been one of the drinking companions of my grandfather Mencken.

1990 S. Turow Burden of Proof i. v. 68 She used her glass and gestured with a rummy lushness.

2005 D. Watkins New World Burning xv. 207 Aside from the rummy men drowsing by the fire, not another living sound was heard.

1828 Sporting Mag. 23 19 A neat, but rather rummy looking blue pony.

1846 Era (London) 31 May The vast procession of two and four wheeled things, from the downiest Longacre turn-out to the rummiest knacker's drag.

1867 A. Trollope Last Chron. Barset II. lxxx. 355 They're a rummy couple, if what I hear is true.

1892 Spectator 13 Feb. 223/2 The ‘rummy’ names people give their houses in the suburbs.

1915 A. Pinero Big Drum iii. 185 Phiou! Rummy development this, Mr. Filson!

1923 P. G. Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves x. 104 It must have been about a week after this rummy little episode that George Caffyn called me up.

1942 ‘M. Innes’ Daffodil Affair ii. 40 One does not want a loopy colleague when embarked upon so distinctly rummy an investigation.

1982 A. Maupin Further Tales of City 64 Why was this sweet, but rummy, society dowager talking to her like an equal?

1995 Entertainm. Weekly 19 May 43/1 Now it's Wales' turn to serve as the setting for the latest rummy Brigadoon.

1891 ‘M. Maartens’ Old Maid's Love I. xxxv. 253 Suzanna's teaching has ended rummily enough with you, my boy.

1921 P. G. Wodehouse Indiscretions of Archie xxvi. 294 He didn't behave rummily up till then? I mean to say, wasn't sort of jumpy and all that?

1914 J. P. Buschlen Behind Wicket 227 ‘Have a little game—it's rummy.’.. Burton ‘rummied’ the speaker, and participated in the gossip.

1929 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 658/2 Directly a player rummies that deal is finished, and all the hands are exposed and added up.

1966 L. Davidson Long Way to Shiloh x. 144 ‘What about a game of cards?’.. She played with immense concentration and rummied out in about five minutes.