ruddy

[ ruhd-ee ]
See synonyms for: ruddyruddiness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,rud·di·er, rud·di·est.
  1. of or having a fresh, healthy red color: a ruddy complexion.

  2. red or reddish.

  1. British Slang. damned: a ruddy fool.

adverb
  1. British Slang. damned: He'd ruddy well better be there.

Origin of ruddy

1
before 1100; Middle English rudi,Old English rudig.See rudd, -y1

Other words from ruddy

  • rud·di·ly, adverb
  • rud·di·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ruddy in a sentence

  • His paleness changed to the ruddiness of manhood; and his feeble limbs felt all the vigor of a hero in his prime.

  • She was in person full-limbed and somewhat heavy; without ruddiness, as without pallor; and soft to the touch as a cloud.

    Return of the Native | Thomas Hardy
  • She knew not to what she should have recourse, when the stranger made a slight movement, and a faint ruddiness tinged her cheeks.

  • Portland Place at Christmas in a black fog was never a rosy landscape, but in 1861 the most hardened Londoner lost his ruddiness.

  • The baby, Milita, who attracted attention because of her whiteness and ruddiness, had the strength that her mother lacked.

    Woman Triumphant | Vicente Blasco Ibaez

British Dictionary definitions for ruddy

ruddy

/ (ˈrʌdɪ) /


adjective-dier or -diest
  1. (of the complexion) having a healthy reddish colour, usually resulting from an outdoor life

  2. coloured red or pink: a ruddy sky

adverb, adjectiveinformal, mainly British
  1. (intensifier) bloody; damned: a ruddy fool

Origin of ruddy

1
Old English rudig, from rudu redness (see rudd); related to Old High German rot red 1, Swedish rod, Old Norse rythga to make rusty

Derived forms of ruddy

  • ruddily, adverb
  • ruddiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012