polrumptious

English

Etymology

Uncertain. Probably related to rumptious (“energetic, rowdy, uproarious”). The initial pol may be derived from some sense of poll.

Adjective

polrumptious (comparative more polrumptious, superlative most polrumptious)

1. (dialectal, slang, archaic) Unruly, rowdy, restless.
   • 1818 July 25, Jedadiah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], Tales of My Landlord, Second Series, […] (The Heart of Mid-Lothian), volume III, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Company, →OCLC, page 170:

     "Why, that's another matter," replied the beadle; "an' if it be true—and I think thou doest not look so polrumptious as thy play-fellow yonder—thou wouldst be a mettle lass enow, an thou wert snog and snod a bit better. Come thou away then—the Rector is a good man."

   • 1888, Q. [pseudonym; Arthur Quiller-Couch], chapter XVII, in The Astonishing History of Troy Town, London […]: Cassel & Company, Limited, page 213:

     "Iss, sir. Two knacks 'pon the floor, an' I'd ha' been up in a jiffey. But niver mind, sir, us'll wait up for mun to-night, an' I'll get the loan o' the Dearloves' blunderbust in case they gets polrumptious."

   • 1908, Ms. Percy Dearmer [i.e., Mabel Dearmer], chapter four, in The Sisters, New York, N.Y.: The McClure Company, page 82:

     "Poor lamb," she said suddenly, "yu're well nigh done with them polrumptious trains and things, and yu not long a wife, I'll dare be bound. Look yu here, my dear—ma'am—I am sure I beg your pardon Mrs. Gray—ma'am—as I mentioned before, yu'll not take what I say being too free—yu just set yu down here where yu be, and let Cherry unbutton your boots—it do make a most wonderful easement to take your boots off and let your feet swell into whatever shape they've got a mind to—it do relieve yu wonderful, and no mistake."