ruck

¹ American  

[ruhk] / rʌk /

noun

1. a large number or quantity; mass.

2. the great mass of undistinguished or inferior persons or things.

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ruck ² American  

[ruhk] / rʌk /

noun

1. a fold or wrinkle; crease.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become creased or wrinkled.

ruck ¹ British  

/ rʌk /

noun

1. a large number or quantity; mass, esp of ordinary or undistinguished people or things

2. (in a race) a group of competitors who are well behind the leaders at the finish

3. rugby a loose scrum that forms around the ball when it is on the ground

4. Australian rules football the three players, two ruckmen and a rover, that do not have fixed positions but follow the ball closely

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verb

1. (intr) rugby to try to win the ball by advancing over it when it is on the ground, driving opponents backward in the process

ruck ² British  

/ rʌk /

noun

1. a wrinkle, crease, or fold

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verb

1. (usually foll by up) to become or make wrinkled, creased, or puckered

ruck ³ British  

/ rʌk /

noun

1. slang:prison a fight

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ruck ⁴ British  

/ rʌk /

noun

1. slang military a rucksack

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Etymology

Origin of ruck¹

1175–1225; Middle English ruke, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian ruka in same senses; akin to rick ¹

Origin of ruck²

First recorded in 1780–90, ruck is from the Old Norse word hrukka a wrinkle

Example Sentences

In reaching into the ruck it was like Beirne had also reached into their soul, and in that act came a moment of clarity.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Dupont quickly made amends, spinning off the back of a ruck in midfield, stiff-arming hooker Tolu Latu onto his back and scooting through a huge gap to score.

From Barron's • Dec. 28, 2025

What does try, ruck and scrum mean in rugby union?

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has been among those vocal in the Australian media, saying it should have been a penalty against Morgan and the Lions for a dangerous ruck entry.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2025

It would be as if you pushed against the edge of a rug hoping to raise a ruck at the opposite end.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson