rompn.
/rɒmp/, U.S. /rɑmp/ 1. A person who romps, esp. a lively, playful girl or young woman. Now archaic.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > frolicking or romping > [noun] > frolicker
wantonc1450
friskera1549
a merry (or mad) grig1566
friskin1596
uptails1602
gamester1616
romp1678
romper?1780
frolicker1801
skylarker1818
larker1826
rollicker1837
larrikin1868
rompster1893
jive-ass1964
1678 T. Duffett Psyche Debauch'd i. i. 2 How silly is the Show and Pomp, That's practis'd there by every Romp.
1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses i. 7 Your Romps that have no regard to the common Rules of Civility.
a1726 J. Vanbrugh Provok'd Wife (1743) iv. 54 One that will know how to deal with such Romps as you are.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1783 II. 468 [Johnson] She was a better romp than any I ever saw in nature.
1807 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life II. xviii. 159 The Matrons and Seniors of the Stage frisking and dashing through the parts of Romps, and Rakes.
1846 T. De Quincey Syst. Heavens in Tait's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 567/2 Such a girl..you might call a romp; but not a hoyden, observe; no horse-play.
1862 G. A. Sala Seven Sons l. xi. 257 Another variety of the fat school-girl is there in the romp.
1921 S. Henry French Ess. & Profiles 225 A romp, a clown, with his lôge full of pictures of chanticleers in honor of the family name.
1951 G. Heyer Quiet Gentleman iv. 62 ‘My love, it is time and more that you ceased to be such a sad romp!’ said Lady Bolderwood, with a reproving look.
2000 E. Gilbert Stern Men (2001) v. 106 Mrs. Pommeroy had been a romp as a young girl, but she'd quit drinking when Mr. Pommeroy drowned.
2.
a. A spell of rough, energetic play; a lively frolic; (now frequently) spec. a spell of sexual activity, esp. an illicit or transient one (colloquial). Now also: a playful or light-hearted journey or progression; a jaunt. In early use chiefly in plural.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > frolicking or romping > [noun] > a frolic
oliprancec1390
ragerya1393
vague1523
rex1566
friskin1570
gambol1573
reak1573
prank1576
vagary1588
whirligig1589
caper1592
prinkum-prankum1596
firk1611
frolica1635
carryings-on1663
ramp1696
romp1713
freak1724
scheme1758
rig1782
lark1811
escapade1814
gammock1819
gambade1821
enfantillage1827
game1828
shines1830
rollick1834
rusty1835
high jinksa1845
escapado1849
shenanigan1855
rum-tum1876
panta1901
gas1914
1713 J. Gay Wife of Bath i. 3 She is as frolicksome as a young Wench in the Month of May, plays at Romps with the Pilgrims all round.
1735 H. Fielding Universal Gallant iii. 36 What, are you at Romps, good People?
1756 J. Warton Ess. on Pope I. iv. 241 A game of romps was never so well dignified before.
1797 F. Burney Let. Dec. (1891) III. xxi. 137 My little rogue soon engaged him in a romp.
1847 G. Ticknor Life, Lett. & Jrnls. II. xi. 229 The most thorough game of romps I have come across for many a day.
1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. x. 214 I have been having a romp with my godson.
1938 C. Porter Compl. Lyrics (1983) 170 So just remember when you get that glance, a romp and a quickie is all little Dickie means when he mentions romance.
1966 Black Belt June 20/1 Koreans in both city and country leave their homes for a romp in the outdoors.
1992 P. Auster Leviathan (1993) ii. 88 She was simply amusing herself with a brief romp while her husband was out of town.
2001 I. Sinclair Landor's Tower (2002) i. i. 11 We were in and out of the Tintern shops in seconds,..dormitory romps, strict discipline in alpine chalet schools, yakking bunny rabbits.
b. A lively, fast-paced, and usually frivolous play, film, or other entertainment.
ΚΠ
1895 G. B. Shaw in Sat. Rev. 19 Oct. 504/1 ‘Poor Mr. Potton’, at the Vaudeville, is called a farce,..but it is hardly more than a romp.
1942 Los Angeles Times 31 Oct. i. 7/2 This will immediately follow that hilarious romp, ‘Out of the Frying Pan’, which is proving a great drawing card.
1964 Film Q. Summer 59/2 Shock Treatment could have been a romp. Unfortunately Sanders has only managed a sporadically amusing, but frequently limp and sagging, film.
2009 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 10 Feb. c1 The film is a romantic romp about a couple of corporate security types working a con on the corporations and on each other.
c. colloquial (originally U.S.). Chiefly Sport. A victory by a substantial margin; a game, race, etc., which is won easily. Cf. in a romp at Phrases and romp v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > [noun] > winning or win
winningc1330
lurchingc1350
lurch1598
whitewash1834
win1862
whitewash1866
romp1919
upset1921
sweep1960
1919 G. Rice in Ft. Wayne (Indiana) News & Sentinel 27 Sept. 6/4 These impressions are offered to remove the idea..that the Sox will have a romp.
1930 Cumberland (Maryland) Evening Times 17 Feb. 10/6 (heading) Guards hold Hub forwards to four field goals in 81 to 10 romp.
1974 State (Columbia, S. Carolina) 3 Mar. 1 d/7 USC scored 104 points enroute to a 104-55 romp over DePauw back in December.
1980 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 16 Nov. 3 The Republican Party's Election Day romp surprised even the most prescient soothsayers along Wall Street.
1985 Los Angeles Times 20 Feb. (Home ed.) iii. 4/1 Oilers..scored six consecutive goals to turn the game into a romp.
2003 Greyhound Star Aug. 40/4 Good Grain 3/1 turned the final of the Ballylooby Confined 29.70 Stake into a romp..when beating Ballybrazil Hero by seven lengths in 28.94.
Phrases
in a romp: with the greatest ease (esp. of a victory achieved by a substantial margin). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > easy, easily, or without difficulty [phrase] > with the greatest of ease
in a romp1893
1893 Rider & Driver 5 Aug. 14/2 Nowhere, ridden by Mr. Storm, took the lead and was never headed, winning in a romp.
1901 J. Ralph War's Brighter Side xv. 249 One said to me, as he pointed at Maghersfontain Kopje, ‘Set a brewery upon top of that and my regiment will take the place in a romp.’
1904 ‘O. Henry’ in Everybody's Mag. Feb. 192/1 Rompiro will win in a romp... We'll carry the country by 10,000.
1955 Baseball Digest Oct. 32/2 Series teams that had won their pennants in a romp prevailed over those who had to fight all the way.
2006 T. F. Schaller Whistling Past Dixie v. 154 Racicot helped the Republicans regain the majority in both houses of the state legislature, then won reelection in a romp in 1996.
Compounds
C1.
romp-loving adj.
ΚΠ
1730 J. Thomson Autumn in Seasons 151 Romp-loving miss Is haul'd about, in gallantry robust.
1887 K. Hodges Fifty Years Queen xvi. 139 In less than a year Prince Leopold had won over merry romp-loving Princess Charlotte to a degree of dignified propriety.
1912 B. Moses Charles Dickens i. ii. 21 Happy, hearty, romp-loving boys, learning in the healthy atmosphere of a good man's influence.
2005 LA Weekly (Nexis) 25 Nov. 76 Tail-wagging, ball-chasing, romp-loving puppies.
C2.
romp suit n. originally U.S. = romper suit n. at romper n. Compounds.
ΚΠ
1878 St. Joseph (Mich.) Traveler Herald 25 May (advt.) Children's Suits, from the lowest priced Calico Romp Suits to the most costly Graduation and Party dresses.
1961 W. Sansom Last Hours Sandra Lee 70 A fresh-faced girl in a romp-suit leapt from cold Essex water.
2007 Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 18 Mar. 32 A baby romp suit from Italian designer Album Di Famiglia costs $180.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
rompv.
/rɒmp/, U.S. /rɑmp/ 1. intransitive. To play roughly or energetically (esp. of children and animals); to sport or frolic in a lively, light-hearted, or boisterous manner; (now frequently) spec. to engage in sexual activity, esp. of an illicit nature.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > frolicking or romping > frolic [verb (intransitive)]
floxec1200
ragea1275
to dance antics1545
rig1570
to keep (also play) reaks1573
wanton1582
wantonize1592
frolic1593
wantonize1611
hoit1613
mird?c1625
to play about1638
freak1663
romp1665
rump1680
ramp1735
jinket1742
skylark1771
to cut up1775
rollick1786
hoity-toity1790
fun1802
lark1813
gammock1832
haze1848
marlock1863
train1877
horse1901
mollock1932
spadger1939
grab-ass1957
1665 R. Monsey Scarronides 84 The women Bacchanalian, Came romping down with many a Stallian.
1691 T. D'Urfey Love for Money iv. ii. 36 They were both found Romping in the Garden with 'em last Night.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 15. ⁋2 This careless Jade was eternally romping with the Footman.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. i. 380 How will you..prevent your sons from consorting with the black-guard, or your daughters from romping among the grooms?
1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France I. 83 Gentlemen..romped with the girls of the house.
1842 J. Wilson Recreations Christopher North I. 213 The young people will have been romping about the parlours.
1870 H. Smart Race for Wife ii. 31 They had romped together as children.
1891 ‘J. S. Winter’ Lumley ix. 62 The big mare.., after romping about the road for a minute or two, tore away at a gallop.
1924 Amer. Mercury Apr. 436/2 Happy the official who can spare an hour or two during a busy day to romp with the kiddies at a time like this.
1948 ‘R. Crompton’ Family Roundabout xvii. 189 Max, red-faced and perspiring, romped about like an overgrown schoolboy, enjoying the game as much as any of the children.
1970 J. Finney Time & Again (1974) xiii. 174 Dogs barked, romped, rolled, and cavorted, excited by the snap in the air and the snow.
1999 News of World 26 Sept. 3/1 Now Angela..vigorously backs moves to jail tutors who romp with pupils—even if they are over the age of consent.
2. colloquial.
a. intransitive. To proceed easily and rapidly. Also in extended use. Frequently with adverbs or adverbial phrases (now esp. with to (a lead or victory)).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly and easily
to go or run on wheelsc1547
to go away1635
romp1816
the world > action or operation > easiness > do or accomplish something easily [verb (intransitive)]
romp1928
stroll1976
1816 European Mag. 70 61/1 The native playfulness and arch simplicity with which she has delightfully romped through a variety of interesting characters.
1891 ‘J. S. Winter’ Mrs. Bob 120 To use the language of the turf, she romped clean away from them.
1893 H. M. Doughty Our Wherry in Wendish Lands 70 In what was rough water to our little ship we romped along.
1928 Sunday Express 22 July 1/1 The child of 1928 simply romps through papers which were ‘teasers’ for the child of 1914.
1951 People 17 June 2 Petula Clark, who romps away with her first grown-up part with all-star honours.
1960 Times 16 May 19/1 He and Davies romped to a 5–1 lead.
1968 J. Sangster Touchfeather ii. 8 I romped through the training, passing out eventually with the highest marks anyone could remember.
1976 Southwest Times Record (Fort Smith, Arkansas) 20 Sept. 1 b/1 The Dallas Cowboys overcame a rash of early errors and romped to a 24–6 National Football League victory over the New Orleans Saints.
2006 D. Mark Going Dirty (2007) i. 7 Clinton romped to a solid, near-landslide level Electoral College victory.
b. intransitive. To get home (also in) with ease; to win a race, contest, etc., with ease. Also in extended use.Esp. in early use particularly associated with horse racing, and later often in sporting contexts.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > win, lose, or score [verb (intransitive)] > win
win1297
romp1869
to run out1869
account1928
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > win > win easily
to win in a canter1853
to win in a walk1858
romp1869
to walk over (the course)1903
to walk home1932
to coast home1934
walk1937
to romp it1967
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > race [verb (intransitive)] > finish in specific manner
to be shot on the post1868
romp1869
dead-heat1887
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > actions of horse
to carry weight1734
to get up1840
screw1840
to come again1841
to set to1856
to wait off1856
romp1869
to answer the question1875
compound1876
to gallop to a standstill1892
nick1898
to take up1912
rate1920
1869 Gentleman's Mag. Feb. 340 St. Albans fairly romping home for the St. Leger.
1881 E. W. Hamilton Diary 28 Oct. (1972) I. 178 The Liberal candidate, though a Roman Catholic and not supposed to be a good candidate, simply ‘romped in’.
1891 Sporting Life (Philadelphia) 20 Mar. (Farmer) I recall his recent half-mile at Oxford, when he romped home in the easiest possible manner.
1910 A. Bennett Clayhanger iii. xvii. 444 A demy poster..to inform the public that the true friend of the public was ‘romping in’.
1927 Observer 18 Sept. 17/2 It is a bad blow to official Labour that Mr. Larkin should have romped home in north Dublin.
1950 Sport 22 Sept. 4/1 On Saturday the Forest ‘stiffs’ romped home to a 5–1 victory over Halifax.
1974 Times 2 Mar. 4/7 Mr Thorpe..romped home in his own constituency while Liberals elsewhere were generally less successful.
1992 M. Pearce & G. Stewart Brit. Polit. Hist. 1867–1990 iii. 98 Against all his expectations Salisbury romped home with another massive majority.
c. transitive. British. To win (a contest, esp. an election) easily. Frequently in to romp it.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > win > win easily
to win in a canter1853
to win in a walk1858
romp1869
to walk over (the course)1903
to walk home1932
to coast home1934
walk1937
to romp it1967
1967 Economist 28 Jan. (Survey Suppl.) p. x/1 The Liberals, quietly led by Mr Holt, romped it.
1979 Guardian 21 June 14/4 The Tories won (no, romped) the election on that manifesto.
1981 Guardian Weekly 12 Apr. 22/3 If a widening grin is the test of a novel's entertainment value in retrospect, A Good Man In Africa romps it.
1984 Sun 7 Nov. 1 (headline) Reagan romps it.
2007 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 8 Aug. 56 CSKA were a superb side yet people expected us to romp it.
3. transitive. To drive or convey in a romping fashion. Also with it. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > [verb (transitive)] > rapidly
rush1554
whirr1609
posta1616
whirl1616
spin1696
romp1895
shoot1919
shimmy1923
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > impel or drive animates > rapidly
brush1827
romp1895
june1903
1895 R. Kipling Second Jungle Bk. 78 Baloo..would shamble alongside a wavering line and half frighten, half romp it clumsily back to the proper road.
1897 Daily News 3 May 7/3 They were being romped back to Hanopoulo as fast as mules could take them.
1908 World To-day Apr. 394/2 The little baby toddled away from his mother, and the gentle way in which he was romped back to her side but completed the picture of applied Christianity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1678v.1665