from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rummage \Rum"mage\ (?; 48), n. [For roomage, fr. room; hence
originally, a making room, a packing away closely. See
{Room}.]
1. (Naut.) A place or room for the stowage of cargo in a
ship; also, the act of stowing cargo; the pulling and
moving about of packages incident to close stowage; --
formerly written romage. [Obs.]
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2. A searching carefully by looking into every corner, and by
turning things over.
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He has made such a general rummage and reform in the
office of matrimony. --Walpole.
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{Rummage sale}, a clearance sale of unclaimed goods in a
public store, or of odds and ends which have accumulated
in a shop. --Simmonds.
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