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

Massive numbers in ruck hits, ball carries and tackles.

From BBC

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

Turner saw yellow for a daft offence at the side of a ruck.

From BBC

The share of rucks completed in less than three seconds has jumped 10%.

From BBC

After just three minutes, the towering Josh Lord ambled through a huge gap in a ruck before nonchalantly popping the ball off to scampering scrum-half Roigard.

From BBC