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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RAMPAGE, v., n. Also rampauge; rampaage; ¶rumpish. Now St. Eng. but orig. Sc. [rɑm′pedʒ, ′-pɑdʒ, ′-pǫdʒ; also †′rɑmpədʒ]

I. v. To rage furiously, rave, storm about, rush about in a furious manner; to play roughly or boisterously. Gen.Sc. Hence rampa(u)ging, vbl.n., fury, violent passion, furious or boisterous rushing about (Cai.³ 1931); ppl.adj., furious, violent, boisterous, unruly. Deriv. rampa(u)ger, one who rushes about, a boisterous romping person or child (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1715 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 71:
When he came hame his Wife did reel, And rampage in her Choler.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S). 68:
As soon's he miss'd it, he rampaged red-wood, And lap and danc'd, and was in unco mood.Per. 1774 Gentleman and Lady's Weekly Mag. (8 June) 234:
Whan fouk rampag'd, an' fought for ilka thing.e.Lth. a.1801 R. Gall Poems (1819) 35:
Some bogle rampaged at his back.Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. ix.:
There was Dominie Sampson, gaun rampauging about, like mad, seeking for them.Ayr. 1879 J. White Jottings 78:
Scarcely had she got seated when another rampager in all haste came to her with a cut finger.Gall. 1888 G. G. B. Sproat Rose o' Dalma Linn 66:
He raged an' he rumpished, an' beetled the print.Fif. 1895 S. Tytler Kincaid's Widow i.:
Na, she's no a bit like the yammering mother of her, or the rampauging father.Abd. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 50:
An' ti rampaage like a Reed Indian.Bwk. 1943 W. L. Ferguson Vignettes 69:
A cat rampages up and doon Inside my heid, — she'll fluff and scart.

II. n. An outburst of rage or fury, violent, disorderly behaviour; riotous living. Gen.Sc. Deriv. rampa(u)geous, ¶rampaginous, furious, violent, wild, unruly, obstreperous, boisterous.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xxviii.:
It was thought necessary to call on the people to resist the rampageous ambition of Bonaparte.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 127:
The deil may start on the rampage.Fif. 1894 J. Menzies Our Town 211:
The tailors, saving Donald Tamson who was abroad, “on the rampage.”Per. 1897 C. M. Stuart Sandy Scott's Bible Class 16:
He was fair rampaginous wi his louping.Sc. 1931 Barrie Farewell Miss J. Logan i.:
This room I am now sitting in (with the wind still on the rampage).