An outburst of violence or riotous behavior by a person, or people, who destroy property: The rioters went on a rampage, breaking into stores and stealing things or setting them on fire. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

1. To be involved in a violent or riotous behavior, or to do a series of violent acts: The fans of the losing team rampaged in the streets for some time with wild and uncontrollable rock throwing and destruction of property in the area near the sports field.
2. Etymology: probably from a Middle English verb ramp, "rave, rush wildly about" from around 1300, with special reference to "beasts rearing up on their hind legs", as if climbing; from Old French ramper.