[ˈramp(ə)nt], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- (especially of something unwelcome) flourishing or spreading unchecked
(e.g: political violence was rampant)

- (of an animal) represented standing on one hind foot with its forefeet in the air (typically in profile, facing the dexter side, with right hind foot and tail raised)
(e.g: two gold lions rampant)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English (as a heraldic term): from Old French, literally ‘crawling’, present participle of ramper (see ramp). From the original use describing a wild animal arose the sense ‘fierce’, whence the current notion of ‘unrestrained’