a noisy or violent disturbance; commotion; uproar:
There was a terrible rumpus going on upstairs.
2.
a heated controversy:
a rumpus over the school-bond issue.
Origin
1755-65; origin uncertain
Examples from the web for rumpus
However, the rumpus highlights underlying changes in the relationship.
The rumpus poses no immediate threat to the central government.
These talented players deliver fun, hot, rumpus jazz with a twist.
There's been a prolonged rumpus over the question of genetic patents.
The latest rumpus will do little for confidence in the short term.
Probably not, because he may yet benefit from the rumpus.
Whether the rumpus will change much at the papers is doubtful.
But the rumpus may have scared foreign investors away.
Instead, it was off to the magic island of monsters for a wild rumpus and a whole lot of arguing and wounded feelings.
And in the midst of all the rumpus is the unmistakable sound of a reader turning a page.
British Dictionary definitions for rumpus
rumpus
/ˈrʌmpəs/
noun (pl) -puses
1.
a noisy, confused, or disruptive commotion
Word Origin
C18: of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for rumpus
n.
1764, of unknown origin, "prob. a fanciful formation" [OED], possibly an alteration of robustious "boisterous, noisy" (1540s; see robust). First record of rumpus room "play room for children in a family home" is from 1938.