vamoose

English

Etymology

Alteration of Spanish vamos (we go) or vámonos (let's go). Cognate with English namous.

Pronunciation

  • (file)

Verb

vamoose (third-person singular simple present vamooses, present participle vamoosing, simple past and past participle vamoosed)

  1. (transitive, intransitive, slang) To run away (from); to flee.
    • 1905, Wisconsin Alumni Magazine (volume 7, page 218)
      Speaking of the room in which I locked McIndoe — I will preface by saying that Mac "vamoosed that ranch" that very day and left me alone.
  2. (intransitive, slang) To hurry.
  3. (intransitive, informal) To be expelled.
    • 1958 December 24, “'Sundown' Policy Is Alleged”, in The World, Coos Bay, Oregon, page 2:
      Some members of civil rights organizations present said they have heard that Negroes seeking housing in the [sundown] towns had been intimidated and that 'vamoose' warnings have been in vogue for the past year.

Synonyms

Translations

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