ruse

¹

[rooz]

noun

1. a trick, stratagem, or artifice.

Ruse

²

[roo-sey]

noun

1. a city in N Bulgaria, on the Danube.

Ruse

¹

/ ˈruːseɪ /

noun

1. a city in NE Bulgaria, on the River Danube: the chief river port and one of the largest industrial centres in Bulgaria. Pop: 172 000 (2005 est)

ruse

²

/ ruːz /

noun

1. an action intended to mislead, deceive, or trick; stratagem

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruse¹

1375–1425; late Middle English (noun use of obsolete rusen to detour) < Middle French, derivative of ruser to retreat. See rush ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruse¹

C15: from Old French: trick, esp to evade capture, from ruser to retreat, from Latin recūsāre to refuse

Synonym Study

See trick.

Example Sentences

The Red Cross criticized the U.S.-designated terrorist group for involving it in an apparent ruse.

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The precocious girls soon cotton on to the headmistress’s ruse and parry her appeals to dish on Miss Brodie.

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To accept this ruse would be an insult to Mr. Mamdani, a man of strong convictions, and to the political movement of which he is a part.

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During the course of the innings he used a ruse to fool the English field.

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The court heard he used the lure of designer handbag brand Hermes as a ruse to trick people into giving him the money.

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Related Words

• feint 
• game plan 
• gimmick 
• hoax 
• ploy 
• sham 
• stratagem 
• stunt 
• subterfuge