"Rumpus" is a noun. It means a disturbance, a kerfuffle, some excitement, a noisy altercation, that sort of thing. I found out by watching the movie "Miller's Crossing" that there was a time when mobsters were fond of saying "What's the rumpus?" I believe that time was in the 30's...the glorious era of prohibition and the Thompson submachine gun. It may have been in the 20's too.

- LH