ruddle

American  

[ruhd-l] / ˈrʌd l /

noun

1. a red variety of ocher, used for marking sheep, coloring, etc.

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verb (used with object)

ruddled, ruddling

1. to mark or color with ruddle.

ruddle British  

/ ˈrʌdəl /

noun

1. a red ochre, used esp to mark sheep

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verb

1. (tr) to mark (sheep) with ruddle

Other Word Forms

• unruddled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of ruddle

1530–40; dial. rud ( see rudd) + -le

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ruddle ruddled ruddling

Page 22, line 20. rubrica fabrili: in English ruddle or reddle.

From On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth a new physiology, demonstrated by many arguments & experiments by Gilbert, William

For my share of disguising, I now rubbed together some ruddle and dry soil, and the mixture gave a necessary touch of coarseness to her hands.

From The Yeoman Adventurer by Gough, George W.

Ducange, with the authorities quoted above, make its colour green; but the sinoper, or ruddle of commerce, is of a dark red or purplish hue.

From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Lower, Mark Antony

They revolted in 363-362, but were reduced again, and the Athenians established a monopoly of the ruddle, or red earth, which was one of the most valuable products of the island.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various

The distorted gibbous disk lifted itself above the edge—red as ruddle and enlarged by the refraction: a giant coppery moon, weird and magical.

From Greene Ferne Farm by Jefferies, Richard

The pock-marked rascal is lying quiet on the ruddled bricks at the foot of the stairs.

From Despair's Last Journey by Murray, David Christie

Every one of these ruddled workers, slouching with his dog at his heels to see something of the fight, was a true unit of his race.

From The Croxley Master: A Great Tale Of The Prize Ring by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir

"I know you're a ruddled old hunks," said Mount, carelessly.

From Cardigan by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)

Even to-day those ruddled drawings can set a spell.

From Highways and Byways in Surrey by Thomson, Hugh

I am apt to believe, that they took the first hint of their dress from a fair sheep newly ruddled.

From Letters of the Right Honourable Lady M—y W—y M—e Written during Her Travels in Europe, Asia and Africa to Persons of Distinction, Men of Letters, &c. in Different Parts of Europe by Montagu, Mary Wortley, Lady

Three hundred pistoles!" he echoed; "for ruddling the blades and risking the lives of nine of the finest swordsmen in Europe?

From The Duke's Motto A Melodrama by McCarthy, Justin H. (Justin Huntly)