rus·tle

[ruhs-uhl] verb, rus·tled, rus·tling, noun
verb (used without object)
1.
to make a succession of slight, soft sounds, as of parts rubbing gently one on another, as leaves, silks, or papers.
2.
to cause such sounds by moving or stirring something.
3.
to move, proceed, or work energetically: Rustle around and see what you can find.
verb (used with object)
4.
to move or stir so as to cause a rustling sound: The wind rustled the leaves.
5.
to move, bring, or get by energetic action: I'll go rustle some supper.
6.
to steal (livestock, especially cattle).
00:10
Rustle is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
to spend time idly; loaf.
noun
7.
the sound made by anything that rustles: the rustle of leaves.
8.
rustle up, Informal. to find, gather, or assemble by effort or search: to rustle up some wood for a fire.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English rustlen (v.); compare Frisian russelje, Dutch ridselen; of imitative orig.

rus·tling·ly, adverb
un·rus·tling, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To rustle
Collins
World English Dictionary
rustle1 (ˈrʌsəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to make or cause to make a low crisp whispering or rubbing sound, as of dry leaves or paper
2.  to move with such a sound
 
n
3.  such a sound or sounds
 
[Old English hrūxlian; related to Gothic hrukjan to crow², Old Norse hraukr raven, crow1]
 
'rustling1
 
adj, —n
 
'rustlingly1
 
adv

rustle2 (ˈrʌsəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  chiefly (US), (Canadian) to steal (cattle, horses, etc)
2.  informal (US), (Canadian) to move swiftly and energetically
 
[C19: probably special use of rustle1 (in the sense: to move with quiet sound)]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

rustle
"to emit soft, rapid sounds," late 14c. (implied in rustling), of uncertain origin, perhaps imitative (cf. M.L.G. ruschen, M.Du. ruusscen, Ger. rauschen "to rustle"). The noun is attested from 1759. Meaning "steal" (especially cattle) first attested 1882, probably from earlier Amer.Eng. slang sense of
"move about vigorously" (1872), perhaps a separate word, compounded from rush and hustle.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The artificial leaves won't rustle soothingly in a summer breeze, or change
  from green to red and fall to the ground in autumn.
It's not difficult to rustle up some possible reasons for all this.
The lining may also bunch and peek out at the wrists and it may squeak and
  rustle when you walk.
Lunch arrives in a rustle of brown paper bags at a table under white birches.
Related Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT