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ruddy - 6 dictionary results

rud⋅dy

  [ruhd-ee] adjective, -di⋅er, -di⋅est, adverb
Use ruddy in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or having a fresh, healthy red color: a ruddy complexion.
2. red or reddish.
3. British Slang. damned: a ruddy fool.
–adverb
4. British Slang. damned: He'd ruddy well better be there.
Origin:
bef. 1100; ME rudi, OE rudig. See rudd, -y 1

Related forms:
rud⋅di⋅ly, adverb
rud⋅di⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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rud·dy   (rŭd'ē)   
adj.   rud·di·er, rud·di·est
    1. Having a healthy, reddish color.
    2. Reddish; rosy.
  2. Chiefly British Slang Used as an intensive: "You ruddy liar!" (John Galsworthy).

[Middle English rudi, from Old English rudig; see reudh- in Indo-European roots.]
rud'di·ly adv., rud'di·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Ruddy

Rud"dy\, a. [Compar. Ruddier; superl. Ruddiest.] [AS. rudig. See Rud, n.]

1. Of a red color; red, or reddish; as, a ruddy sky; a ruddy flame. --Milton.

They were more ruddy in body than rubies. --Lam. iv. 7.

2. Of a lively flesh color, or the color of the human skin in high health; as, ruddy cheeks or lips. --Dryden.

Ruddy duck (Zo["o]l.), an American duck (Erismatura rubida) having a broad bill and a wedge-shaped tail composed of stiff, sharp feathers. The adult male is rich brownish red on the back, sides, and neck, black on the top of the head, nape, wings, and tail, and white on the cheeks. The female and young male are dull brown mixed with blackish on the back; grayish below. Called also dunbird, dundiver, ruddy diver, stifftail, spinetail, hardhead, sleepy duck, fool duck, spoonbill, etc.

Ruddy plover (Zo["o]l.) the sanderling.

Ruddy

Rud"dy\, v. t. To make ruddy. [R.] --Sir W. Scott.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : ruddy
Spanish: con color(es),
German: rötlich,
Japanese: 赤らんだ
More Translations »

ruddy 
O.E. rudig, probably from rudu "redness," related to read "red" (see red). As a British slang euphemism for bloody (q.v.), first recorded 1914.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: rud·dy
Pronunciation: 'r&d-E
Function: adjective
Inflected Forms: rud·di·er; -est
: having a healthyreddish color ruddy complexion>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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