A ludicrous word signifying a combination of disorder and ferocity, and admitting of variations. Bulwer-Lytton has Rambustions, 1853. (N.E.D.)
1847. [An old he bar is] as ramstugenous an animal as a log-cabin loafer in the dog days, jist about.—T. B. Thorpe, ‘The Big Bear of Arkansas: A Swim for a Deer,’ p. 120 (Phila.).
1851. I arrived in the best time, perhaps, for as soon as I reached the door the old lady bawled out—
“Polkstalks and leather breeches! there comes our ramstuginous little doctor; how are you?”—M. L. Byrn, ‘An Arkansaw Doctor,’ p. 81.
1853. [They] might fall on your head and hurt you, if so be you happened to be rambustical.—Durivage, ‘Life Scenes,’ p. 176.
a. 1854. Some [men] are mild and peaceable as lambs, while others are as uproarious and rambunctious as tigers.—Dow, Jun., ‘Patent Sermons,’ iv. 120.
1856. If he was a rumbunctious old turnip, generally speaking, he still was one of ’em.—Knick. Mag., xlviii. 612 (Dec.).
1856. You rambunctious old wool-grower!—San Francisco Call, Dec. 17.
1866. A plan was set on foot to procure a fierce and rambunkshus animal from the mountains of Hepsidam.—C. H. Smith, ‘Bill Arp,’ p. 54.
1876. After awhile these rambuctious privates learned all about extra duty, half rations and courts martial.—‘Southern Hist. Soc. Papers,’ ii. 226 (Richmond, Va.).
1888. A large and rambunctious goat had taken up his abode in the cabin.—Chicago Inter-Ocean, March 2 (Farmer).
