Definition of rummage

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rum·mage    (rmj) KEY 

VERB:
rum·maged, rum·mag·ing, rum·mag·es
VERB:
tr.

1. To search thoroughly by handling, turning over, or disarranging the contents of.
2. To discover by searching thoroughly.

VERB:
intr.

To make an energetic, usually hasty search.

NOUN:

1. A thorough search among a number of things.
2. A confusion of miscellaneous articles.

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ETYMOLOGY:
From earlier romage, act of packing cargo, from French arrumage, from Old French, from arumer, to stow, from Old Provençal arumar : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + perhaps run, ship's hold ( of Germanic origin; see reu- in Indo-European roots)

OTHER FORMS:
rummag·er(Noun)