rummer

1 of 2

noun

rum·​mer ˈrə-mər How to pronounce rummer (audio)
: a large-bowled footed drinking glass often elaborately etched or engraved

rummer

2 of 2

comparative of rum entry 2

Word History

Etymology

Noun

earlier also romer, borrowed from Dutch (17th century) roemer or German Römer, both meaning literally "person from Rome, Roman"

Note: The form rummer presumably shows secondary shortening of the vowel. Perhaps the original sense was "drinking vessel resembling Roman glass," though a more precise origin of the name is apparently unknown. An association with Dutch roemen "to praise," from the use of such glasses in toasting, is probably secondary.

First Known Use

Noun

1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rummer was in 1625

Rhymes for rummer

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Browse Nearby Words

rummage sale
rummer
rummery
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Cite this Entry

“Rummer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rummer. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rummer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rummer

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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