russet
Americannoun
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yellowish brown, light brown, or reddish brown.
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a coarse reddish-brown or brownish homespun cloth formerly used for clothing.
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any of various apples that have a rough brownish skin and ripen in the autumn.
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a brownish, roughened area on fruit, resulting from diseases, insects, or spraying.
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finished leather that is not yet polished or colored.
adjective
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yellowish-brown, light-brown, or reddish-brown.
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made of russet.
noun
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brown with a yellowish or reddish tinge
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a rough homespun fabric, reddish-brown in colour, formerly in use for clothing
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( as modifier )
a russet coat
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any of various apples with rough brownish-red skins
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abnormal roughness on fruit, caused by parasites, pesticides, or frost
adjective
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(of tanned hide leather) dressed ready for staining
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archaic simple; homely; rustic
a russet life
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of the colour russet
russet hair
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of russet
1225–75; Middle English < Old French rousset, diminutive of rous reddish brown, red (of hair); see roux
Explanation
Use the word russet to describe things that are a reddish-brown color, like autumn leaves or your cousin's pretty auburn hair. The adjective russet is great for talking about a particular color — in fact, the most common kind of Idaho potato is the Russet Burbank potato, named for its russet-colored skin. In apples, the word russet doesn't apply to color, but instead to a roughness in the skin. Another meaning of russet is a cheap, rough blanket worn in the Middle Ages by poor people. The root is the Latin word for "red," russus.
Vocabulary lists containing russet
Brown
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"After Apple-Picking" by Robert Frost
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The BBC uncovered the case of Russet, a dog with severe leg injuries who was posted across dozens of social media accounts, together with requests for funding for his treatment.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
Officers arrested Rodriguez-Garcia after investigating the circumstances around an overnight call to a residence in the 11400 block of Russet Place.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2023
In northern Virginia, former CIA officer Russet Perry secured the Democratic nomination in a Senate seat expected to be a key battleground in the general election.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2023
But they produce a wide range of vegetables, fruit and herbs, including Roxbury Russet apples, native blueberries and pawpaws, a nutritious fruit native to North America.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2023
A load of wood had come for the kitchen, and walking behind the wagon was the redheaded boy from the village, Will Russet.
From "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
