Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old Norse
Origin: rannsaka, from rann 'house' + -saka 'to search'

ransack

 verb
     
ran‧sack [transitive]
1 to go through a place, stealing things and causing damage:
The whole flat had been ransacked.
2 to search a place very thoroughly, often making it untidy
ransack something for something
She ransacked the wardrobe for something to wear.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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