• RUS
n. a1890 colloq., obs. rare – temporary dismissal from a university; suspension
• RUSCLED
adj. c1440 obs. rare – ? wrinkled rugged
• RUSE
n. 1. c1425 – in hunting: a detour or turn made by a hunted animal in order to elude capture
n. 2. 1581 – a trick, stratagem, or wile
vb. 1. a1425 obs. – to drive back in battle
vb. 2. a1425 obs. – to give way, to retreat
vb. 3. c1425 hunting usage, rare – of a hunted animal: to make a detour or turn in order to elude capture
vb. 4. 1777 Eng. dial. – to fall or slide down; to collapse; esp. used of a bank of earth, a wall, etc.
• RUSÉ
adj. 1689 – given to ruses; cunning, deceitful
• RUSÉE
n. 1889 rare – a sly or cunning woman
• RUSH
n. 1. c1736 chiefly Sc. & Eng. dial. rare – a rash, an eruption on the skin
n. 2. 1785 sl., obs. – a robbery in which several people violently force their way into the victim’s house
n. 3. 1788 Eng. dial. obs. – a feast, a party
n. 4. 1851 US college sl. – a fight or other contest of strength between first and second year students
n. 5. 1855 Aust. – a stampede, esp. of cattle
n. 6. 1859 rare – a flock of pochard in flight
n. 7. 1932 Sc. & Eng. dial., rare – a thick growth or tuft of hair
vb. 1. c1440 Sc. rare – to fall quickly or violently; to collapse
vb. 2. c1440 obs. rare – to pull out one’s sword hastily
vb. 3. 1834 Aust. – to cause sheep or cattle to stampede or otherwise disperse
vb. 4. 1859 US colloq., rare – to do something eagerly or enthusiastically
vb. 5. 1863 colloq. – to lavish attention on a person, typically a woman; esp. with a view to a romantic or sexual relationship
vb. 6. 1868 – in croquet: to roquet a ball, typically with some force, to a desired location
vb. 7. 1875 Brit. sl. – to make a person pay for something, with the implication of overcharging; to defraud or cheat a person out of something
vb. 8. 1879 US college sl. – of fraternity or sorority members: to entertain a student in order to assess his or her suitability for membership
vb. 9. 1967 sl., orig. US – to experience a sensation of euphoria, excitement, or energy, esp. as a result of taking drugs or some other stimulant
• RUSH-BUCKLER
n. 1551 rare – a swaggering bravo or ruffian; a noisy braggadocio
• RUSH-CANDLE
n. 1628 – something, weak, feeble, or insignificant
• RUSHEE
n. 1894 US college sl. – a candidate for membership of a fraternity or sorority
• RUSHER
n. 1. 1598 obs. – a person who strews rushes on a floor
n. 2. 1839 US colloq., obs. – an energetic, enthusiastic, or aggressive person or animal
n. 3. 1856 – a person who takes part in a rush to a new goldfield or new territory
• RUSHING
n. 1. 1856 US college sl. – a participating in a fight or other contest of strength between first and second year students
n. 2. 1868 – in croquet: the act of roqueting a ball, typically with some force
• RUSH IN WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD
vb. 1849 – to embark enthusiastically on a course of action that most sensible people would avoid
• RUSH IT
vb. Bk1905 Amer. dial. – to hurry
• RUSHLE
vb. 1553 obs. rare – to rush
• RUSHLIGHT
n. 1635 rare – something considered to be similar to the weak light of a burning rush; something weak, feeble, or insignificant
• RUSH ONE’S FENCES
vb. 1826 – to act precipitously or with excessive haste
• RUSH-ROUND
adj. 1903 rare – characterized by haste or rushing; rushing around
• RUSH THE CAN
vb. 1919 US sl. – to drink freely at a bar
• RUSH THE GROWLER
vb. 1888 Amer. sl. – to purchase beer in a growler (a pail, can, or pitcher used for carrying beer)
• RUSHY
adj. 1. 1579 obs. – weak, insubstantial; also, imprecisely defined
adj. 2. 1908 – rushed hurried; quick
adv. 1908 – in a rush, hurriedly
• RUSK
n. a1500 Sc. obs. – a blow, esp. with something sharp or pointed
vb. 1. a1300 obs. – to disturb violently; to shake; to tear up
vb. 2. a1525 Sc. obs. – to pluck roughly; to scratch, to claw
vb. 3. 1866 Sc. rare – to tousle or frizzle the hair
• RUSKI
n. 1858 sl. – a Russian
• RUSKIE
adj. 1. 1791 Sc. – strong, of force
adj. 2. B1900 Sc. – healthy, stout, vigorous
n. 1. c1697 Sc. – a seed basket used in sowing; a basket of straw for holding oatmeal
n. 2. 1808 Sc. – a straw beehive
n. 3. 1825 Sc. – a coarse straw hat worn by peasant girls and others
n. 4. B1900 Sc. – a strong person of rough manners
n. 5. B1900 Sc. – a very stout woman
• RUSKIN
adj. a1477 obs. – wearing ruskin; ostentatiously dressed
n. 1278 obs. – the fur of the Eurasian red squirrel
• RUSKS
n. 1883 Eng. dial. obs. rare – small pieces of coal
• RUSKY
n. 1858 sl. – a Russian
• RUSPICER
n. c1475 obs. rare – a diviner, a soothsayer
• RUSS
adj. a1525 rare – Russian
n. 1. 1537 rare – a Russian
n. 2. 1570 rare – the Russian language
• RUSSEL
n. c1405 obs. – a red or reddish thing or animal
• RUSSELL BARLOW KNIFE
n. 1779 Amer. dial. – a single-bladed pocket knife
• RUSSET
adj. 1598 – rustic; homely; simple
• RUSSET-COAT
n. 1568 rare – a country person, a peasant; a homely or unsophisticated person
• RUSSET-COATED
adj. 1683 – rustic; homely, unsophisticated
• RUSSET GOWN
n. 1694 obs. – a country girl
• RUSSIAN
n. 1845 Aust., rare – an unruly animal; with reference to cattle and other livestock
• RUSSIANISM
n. 1. 1827 – a characteristically Russian word, phrase, etc., esp. when used in another language
n. 2. 1832 – support for Russia and Russian political or cultural ascendancy
• RUSSIANIST
n. 1917 – an expert in or a student of Russian language, culture, etc.
• RUSSIAN TEA
n. 1930 – any tea laced with rum
• RUSSIC
adj. 1670 rare – Russian
• RUSSIE
adj. 1589 obs. – Russian
n. 1587 obs. – a Russian
• RUSSIFICATION
n. 1842 – a making someone or something Russian in character
• RUSSIFICATOR
n. 1889 – a person who makes someone or something Russian in character
• RUSSIFY
vb. 1824 – to make Russian in character
• RUSSISM
n. 1. 1834 – a characteristically Russian word, phrase, etc., esp. when used in another language
n. 2. 1850 – support for Russia and Russian political or cultural ascendancy
• RUSSKI
n. 1. 1834 colloq., sometimes derogatory – the Russian language
n. 2. 1835 sometimes derogatory – Russia
n. 3. 1840 colloq., sometimes derogatory – a Russian
• RUSSKILAND
n. 1920 colloq. – Russia
• RUSSOMANIAC
adj. 1836 obs. – having intense or irrational feelings about Russia, esp. of fear or dislike; characterized by excessive or irrational fear of Russia
n. 1855 rare – a person who harbours intense or irrational feelings about Russia, whether positive or negative; a person who is excessively admiring or fearful of Russia
• RUSSOPHILE
adj. 1848 – friendly to, or favouring, Russia, or the former Soviet Union, its people, customs, culture, etc.
n. 1853 – a supporter or admirer of Russia or the former Soviet Union, its people. customs, culture, etc.
• RUSSOPHILIA
n. 1884 – admiration of or friendship towards Russia
• RUSSOPHOBE
adj. 1862 – hostile or antipathetic to Russia, its people, culture etc.
n. 1862 – a person who has a strong aversion or hostility to Russia, its people, culture, etc.
• RUSSOPHOBIA
n. 1836 – strong aversion or hostility to Russia, or the former Soviet Union, its people, culture, etc.
• RUSSOPHOBIC
adj. 1875 – hostile or antipathetic to Russia, its people, culture etc.
• RUSSOPHOBISM
n. 1875 – strong aversion or hostility to Russia, or the former Soviet Union, its people, culture, etc.
• RUSSOPHOBIST
adj. 1867 – hostile or antipathetic to Russia, its people, culture etc.
n. 1836 – a person who has a strong aversion or hostility to Russia, its people, culture, etc.
• RUSSOPHONE
adj. 1929 – Russian-speaking
n. 1899 – a Russian-speaking person
• RUSSWALE
n. 1336 obs. – walrus hide
• RUST
n. 1. a1000 obs. – moral decline or decay; corruption
n. 2. a1000 – a deteriorating or impairing effect or influence on the character, mind, or body, esp. as the result of inactivity, or lack of use
n. 3. 1507 Sc. obs. – bitter malice; rancour
n. 4. 1858 sl., obs. rare – money
vb. 1. c1275 obs. rare – to ornament
vb. 2. a1400 – to decay to decline morally or intellectually; to cease to function at full capacity
vb. 3. 1493 rare – to corrupt or contaminate morally or physically; to taint; to infect
vb. 4. 1604 – to cause to degenerate through inactivity or lack of u se; to allow to decay; to waste away in idleness
vb. 5. 1694 obs. rare – to render antiquated or obsolete
• THE RUST
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – railway tracks
• RUST BUCKET
n. 1. 1944 colloq. – an old and rusty ship
n. 2. 1965 colloq. – a car that is rusted through
• RUSTED (UP)
adj. 1556 – impaired by disuse, inactivity, or age; lacking alertness or vitality; sluggish
• RUSTIC
adj. 1. c1550 rare – lacking in elegance, refinement, or education; boorish; ignorant
adj. 2. 1576 – depreciative usage – unrefined, vulgar; rough; crude
adj. 3. 1620 – physically robust; hardly; of health: vigorous
adj. 4. 1738 – plain and simple; unsophisticated; having the charm of the countryside
n. 1. c1550 – a person living in the countryside; a peasant
n. 2. 1600 depreciative usage – a boorish, ignorant, or unsophisticated person; a bumpkin
n. 3. 1841 obs. rare – country dialect
• RUSTICAL
adj. 1. a1475 rare – living in the countryside
adj. 2. 1483 – of a thing: of a type or style appropriate to the country; plain, simple; crude
adj. 3. c1525 – of speech, writing, behaviour, etc.: typical of country people; unrefined, vulgar
adj. 4. 1532 rare – of a person: boorish, unsophisticated
adj. 5. 1542 rare – relating to the countryside or country life; rural
adj. 6. 1583 rare – physically robust
adj. 7. 1660 obs. – roughly approximate; unscientific, inexact
n. 1532 rare – a person who lives in the countryside; typically implies ignorance or lack of sophistication
• RUSTICALITY
n. 1572 rare – rusticity, rusticness, a being rustic or countrified
• RUSTICALNESS
n. a1603 obs. – a being rustic or countrified
• RUSTICAN
n. 1570 obs. rare – a countryman, a rustic, a peasant
• RUSTICATE
adj. a1505 obs. rare – countrified; rustic, boorish
vb. 1. 1660 – to stay or live in the countryside; to live a quiet country life
vb. 2. 1699 – to make rustic or rural in nature or character; to countrify
vb. 3. 1709 – to dismiss from university on a temporary basis, as a punishment; to suspend
vb. 4. 1829 – to live or spend time in seclusion, esp. enforcedly
• RUSTICATED
adj. 1. 1757 arch. – living in the countryside; leading a country life
adj. 2. 1759 – sent or banished to the countryside
adj. 3. 1795 – temporarily dismissed from a university; suspended
• RUSTICATER
n. 1849 orig. & chiefly US – a person who spends time in the countryside, esp. on holiday
• RUSTICATION
n. 1. a1607 obs. – a rural pastime or occupation
n. 2. a1696 arch. – a going to or spending time in the countryside; a living in the countryside
n. 3. 1710 – temporary dismissal from a university; suspension
n. 4. 1732 – a state of rural peacefulness or seclusion
n. 5. 1751 – a sending or banishing a person to the countryside; a being banished in the this way
• RUSTICATOR
n. 1738 – a person who spends time in the countryside, esp. on holiday
• RUSTICATORY
adj. 1815 obs. – relating to the countryside; enjoying a stay in the countryside
• RUSTICIAL
adj. 1820 obs. rare – having a simple rusticity
• RUSTICITY
n. 1621 rare – country people collectively
• RUSTICIZE
vb. 1. 1822 obs. rare – to speak in a rural dialect
vb. 2. 1830 – to give a rustic character or appearance to; to ruralize
vb. 3. 1841 obs. rare – to send or banish to the country
• RUSTINESS
n. 1860 sl., rare – irritability, bad temper; also, restiveness
• RUSTING
adj. 1682 – deteriorating through age, disuse, or neglect; decaying; becoming antiquated
n. 1597 – a deteriorating or becoming impaired, esp. through inactivity or lack of use
• RUSTLE
vb. 1. 1835 US colloq. – to stir or rouse oneself into action; to get a move on
vb. 2. 1882 US colloq. – to move quickly
• RUSTLER
n. 1. 1865 chiefly Amer. dial., rare – a person who works with energy, determination, or initiative to achieve something; a resourceful, enterprising, and energetic person
n. 2. 1881 US – an animal, esp. a domesticated one, that finds food for itself by foraging
• RUSTLESS
adj. 1880 – not impaired or rendered obsolete by age or time; timeless
• RUSTLING
adj. 1877 colloq., chiefly US, rare – busy, bustling; full of activity; also, energetic driven
n. 1872 US colloq. – hard work; energetic striving; furious activity; bustle
• RUSTY
adj. 1. c1390 obs. – morally or spiritually corrupt; wicked; vile, offensive
adj. 2. a1425 – of a person, esp. an elderly one: shabby, decrepit
adj. 3. c1425 chiefly Sc., rare – of poetry: rough, unpolished; unsophisticated
adj. 4. c1430 – of a sound: harsh, grating, raucous; of a person’s voice: hoarse, croaky
adj. 5. 1507 – of a person: suffering physical or mental deterioration or impairment, as a result of age or inactivity
adj. 6. 1549 – fallen out of use or no longer up to date; antiquated, old-fashioned; obsolete
adj. 7. 1602 – of clothes: faded through use; worn, shabby
adj. 8. c1785 rare – lacking polish or refinement; rough, uncultured; surly, churlish; morose
adj. 9. 1521 – of meat, esp. bacon: rancid
adj. 10. 1555 rare – of a horse: refusing to go forward; difficult to control
adj. 11. 1625 obs. – stubborn; refractory
adj. 12. 1694 rare – of a person: bad-tempered, irritable, angry
n. 1835 US colloq. – a prank, a caper; an outburst; a display of emotion, energy, etc.
• RUSTY-COAT
adj. 1785 chiefly US – of a fruit: having a russet skin
n. 1. 1843 chiefly US – any variety of apple having a russet skin
n. 2. 1846 chiefly US, obs. – any variety of potato having a russet skin
• RUSTY DUSTY
adj. 1558 – inferior; in poor condition
n. 1942 colloq., chiefly African-American – the buttocks
• RUSTY-FUSTY
adj. 1. 1630 – characterized by rust and fustiness
adj. 2. a1790 – outdated, old-fashioned
• RUSTY-FUSTY-DUSTY
adj. 1630 – excessively dirty; begrimed with dust and filth
• RUSTY-GUTS
n. B1900 sl. – a blunt, surly, old fellow; a churl
• RUSTY NECK
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a stiff neck
• RUSTY RAIL
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – and old hand on the railroad
• RUT
n. 1. 1582 Eng. dial. rare – orig. the violent breaking of the sea on the shore; later, the roaring of the sea, esp. in breaking on the shore
n. 2. 1607 obs. – a noise, a disturbance
n. 3. 1785 chiefly Sc., rare – a cut or incision
vb. 1. c1450 obs. rare – to beget a child
vb. 2. c1540 obs. – to cut, pierce, or thrust with a weapon
vb. 3. 1637 – to have sexual intercourse; to behave promiscuously or lecherously
• RUTAR
n. 1610 obs. – a cavalry soldier, esp. a German one, of the kind employed in the wars of the 16th & 17th centuries
• RUTE
vb. 1674 Eng. dial., obs. rare – of a child: to cry loudly, to bawl
• RUTEY TIME
n. c1400 obs. rare – rutting time
• RUTH
n. 1. a1200 arch. – a being compassionate; a feeling of sorrow for another; compassion, pity
n. 2. a1200 rare – contrition, repentance; remorse
n. 3. a1200 obs. – a matter for sorrow or regret; an occasion of sorrow or regret
n. 4. c1225 obs. – sorrow, grief, distress; lamentation
n. 5. c1275 obs. – mischief; calamity; ruin
• RUTHE
n. c1400 obs. rare – to awaken, to rouse
• RUTHERS
n. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – wishes; preference
• RUTHFUL
adj. 1. c1225 arch. – full of compassion or pity; compassionate; merciful
adj. 2. c1225 obs. – lamentable, piteous; also, dreadful, calamitous
adj. 3. 1513 obs. – sad, dejected, doleful
• THE RUTHFUL
n. c1230 arch. – those people who are compassionate or merciful
• RUTHFULLY
adv. 1. c1225 – in a pitiable or lamentable fashion; piteously, dolefully, dismally; ruefully
adv. 2. a1560 – compassionately
• RUTHFULNESS
n. 1. 1596 rare – sorrowfulness; regretfulness
n. 2. 1674 rare – compassion, pity
• RUTHIAN
adj. 1920 chiefly baseball usage – reminiscent of ‘Babe’ Ruth, typically with reference to his reputation for hitting exceptionally long home runs
• RUTHLY
adj. c1300 obs. rare – sorrowful, piteous
adv. a1400 obs. rare – sorrowfully, piteously
• RUTHNESS
n. a1400 obs. rare – compassion
• RUTILANCE
n. 1908 – a glowing, shining, gleaming, glittering, with either a reddish or golden light
• RUTILANT
adj. a1460 – glowing, shining, gleaming, glittering, with either a reddish or golden light
• RUTILATE
vb. 1623 rare – to glow, to gleam, to shine, to glitter; to emit rays of light; to appear bright
• RUTILATION
n. 1658 rare – a glow, shine, gleam. glitter, of either a reddish or a golden light; a glowing, etc. with such a light
• RUTILOUS
adj. 1654 – glowing, shining, gleaming, glittering, with either a reddish or golden light; also, reddish, sandy
• RUT OF THE SEA
n. 1694 Eng. dial. rare – orig. the violent breaking of the sea on the shore; later, the roaring of the sea, esp. in breaking on the shore
• RUTSEL
vb. 1481 obs. rare – to slide
• RUTSON
n. c1425 obs. rare – the rutting of stags
• RUTTER
n. 1. 1506 hist. – a cavalry soldier, esp. a German one, of the kind employed in the wars of the 16th & 17th centuries
n. 2. a1529 obs. – a person dressed or behaving like a rutter; a light-hearted cavalier, a dashing gallant
n. 3. 1591 obs. – a member of a gang of swindlers
• RUTTERKIN
adj. 1594 obs. – swaggering; crafty; sly
n. 1526 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – an old crafty fox; a sly old fellow; a swaggering gallant or bully; a term of contempt
• RUTTERY
n. 1567 Sc. rare – lust, lechery
• RUTTING
adj. 1577 – of a person: promiscuous, lecherous
n. 1600 – sexual intercourse; promiscuous or lecherous behaviour
• RUTTINGLY
adv. a1529 obs. rare – dashingly; so as to make a gallant show
• RUTTISH
adj. 1607 – lustful, lewd, lascivious; in a state of sexual excitement
► RUTTLE n. a rattling sound in the throat caused by difficulty in breathing; especially used of a dying person → 1713 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to breathe with difficulty and noise, like a dying person → 1400 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to snore → 1891 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to laugh in a suppressed way → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 4. to rustle, to rattle → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 5. to gurgle, to make a gurgling sound → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• RUTTOCK
n. 1542 obs. rare – a stick or staff
• RUVID
adj. 1. 1632 – rude, barbarous, uncivilized → literary usage
adj. 2. 1837 – rough, rugged, uneven → literary usage
• RUX
n. 1918 naval sl., rare – a disturbance or uproar
• RYBECK
n. 1851 sl., obs. – profit
• RYE
n. 1851 Gypsy usage – a male person; a man, esp. a gentleman
• RYEBUCK
adj. 1. 1859 sl., chiefly Aust. – good, excellent
adj. 2. 1895 sl., chiefly Aust. – genuine
int. 1859 chiefly Aust. – an exclamation of agreement or assent; all right! I am satisfied!
• RYE MORT
n. 1936 sl. – a lady
• RYE-MOUSE
n. 1777 Eng. dial. – a bat
• RYEN
adj. a1000 obs. – made from rye
• RYE STRAW
n. 1615 obs. rare – a weak, insignificant person
• RYMELESS
adj. Bk1904 Sc. – unreasonable; reckless, regardless
• RYNT
vb. 1673 Eng. dial. obs. – to make way, to move over, to stand aside
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Updated: Feb. 26, 2023
Lexicophilia 