Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. an orgy, lit. a dance at which all concerned ‘dance in their birthday suits’ (Grose, 1796).

[1675		T. Duffet Psyche Debauch’d Act I: Now if that you’l walk in to close up all, We’l have a most Serene and clear Rank Ball].
1678		Dryden Mr Limberham Act V: Fresh Wenches, and Ballum Rankum every night.
1683		Otway Atheist I i: [He makes] a very good odd Man at Ballum-rancum or so; that is, when the rest of the Company is coupled, will take care to see there’s good Attendance paid; and when we have a mind to make a Ballum of it indeed, there is no Lewdness so scandalous that he will not be very proud to have the Honour to be put upon.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Ballum rancum, a hop or dance, where the women are all prostitutes, a dance at a brothel.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1821		R. Waln Hermit in America on Visit to Phila. 2nd Ser. 30: Come, boys, for a cruise? [...] ripe for fun—hot-water conventions or Ballum Rancums.
1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 6: Ballum-rankum — a hop or dance of prostitutes naked.
1835		G. Kent Modern Flash Dict. 4: Ballum ranorum, a hop, or a dance, where the women are all prostitutes.
1848		Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835].
1859		‘Scene in a London Flash-Panny’ Matsell Vocabulum 99: But I’m flush of the balsam now, for I dance balum-rancum for the bens.
1871–82		B.M. Carew Life and Adventures.
1881		Trumble Sl. Dict. (1890).
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 6: Ballum Rancom, a social composed of thieves and flash women.
1904		Sun (NY) 10 July 29/4: Here is a genuine letter written in thieves’ slang, recently found by the English police [...] When we get off the swag and get our rewgulars we will go to the Bullum rancum next week.

2. (US prison) an all-underworld dance.

1960

(con. 1950-1960) R.A. Freeman Dict. Inmate Sl. (Walla Walla, WA) 5: Ballum-Rancum – a shindig where all the participants are thieves and prostitutes.