rummy
UK[ˈrʌmi]US[ˈrʌmi]
n
A card game for two or more players in which the objective is to be the first to get rid of all your cards by forming sets or sequences.
n
(archaic) A strange or odd person or thing.
Etymology
The origin of 'rummy' is uncertain but is likely connected to the earlier slang adjective 'rum', meaning 'odd' or 'strange', which emerged in the 16th century. This 'rum' itself may be a shortening of the older 'rumbooze', a term for strong liquor, suggesting a link to eccentric or intoxicated behavior. The card game, first recorded in the early 20th century, likely derived its name from this slang term, possibly because the game was considered peculiar or, more plausibly, because it was a favorite pastime among 'rum' or disreputable characters. Thus, the word's journey reflects a semantic shift from describing oddity to naming a specific, popular game.
Analysis
The word 'rummy' is a simplex word. It is not productively formed from identifiable, separable morphemes in modern English. Its origin is as a 19th-century slang term.
Examples
We spent the evening playing a few hands of rummy.
The old sailor was a bit of a rummy, full of tall tales and strange habits.
Gin rummy is a popular two-player variation of the classic game.