Merriam-Webster's Word Central

October 16, 2012

ruckus (noun): \RUCK-us\
What does it mean?: : a noisy disturbance or quarrel : row
How do you use it?: Mom said that no one would be allowed to play with the go-karts if there was a ruckus every time we got them out.
Are you a word wiz?: We don't expect this question to cause a ruckus: where do you think "ruckus" comes from?

A. It's the name of a kind of cloud.

B. It's a blend of two words.

C. It's from an ancient Egyptian word.

D. It's the name of an old cartoon character.

Language scientists aren't sure, but they believe that "ruckus" comes from a blend of two words: "ruction" and "rumpus." "Ruction" is a pretty rare word that means basically the same thing as "ruckus." "Rumpus" has a meaning that's also similar to "ruckus." It means "a usually noisy commotion." "Rumpus" isn't a very common word either, but you may know it from the book _Where the Wild Things Are_, by Maurice Sendak. In that book, Max tells the Wild Things to "let the wild rumpus start!"