rustle
[ruhs-uh l]
- to make a succession of slight, soft sounds, as of parts rubbing gently one on another, as leaves, silks, or papers.
- to cause such sounds by moving or stirring something.
- to move, proceed, or work energetically: Rustle around and see what you can find.
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- to move or stir so as to cause a rustling sound: The wind rustled the leaves.
- to move, bring, or get by energetic action: I'll go rustle some supper.
- to steal (livestock, especially cattle).
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- the sound made by anything that rustles: the rustle of leaves.
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- rustle up, Informal. to find, gather, or assemble by effort or search: to rustle up some wood for a fire.
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Origin of rustle
1350–1400; Middle English rustlen (v.); compare Frisian russelje, Dutch ridselen; of imitative orig.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
accommodatearrangeassemblebringcatercookfurnishgiveindulgemakepreparepresentproducereadyrenderservesupplyrustle up
- to prepare (a meal, snack, etc) rapidly, esp at short notice
- to forage for and obtain
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rustle1
- to make or cause to make a low crisp whispering or rubbing sound, as of dry leaves or paper
- to move with such a sound
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- such a sound or sounds
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Word Origin
Old English hrūxlian; related to Gothic hrukjan to crow ², Old Norse hraukr raven, crow 1
rustle2
- mainly US and Canadian to steal (cattle, horses, etc)
- US and Canadian informal to move swiftly and energetically
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Word Origin
C19: probably special use of rustle 1 (in the sense: to move with quiet sound)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for rustle up
rustle
v.
"to emit soft, rapid sounds," late 14c. (implied in rustling), of uncertain origin, perhaps imitative (cf. Middle Low German ruschen, Middle Dutch ruusscen, German rauschen "to rustle"). Related: Rustled; rustling. Meaning "steal" (especially cattle) first attested 1882, probably from earlier American English slang sense of "move about vigorously" (1844), perhaps a separate word, compounded from rush and hustle.
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rustle
n.
1759, from rustle (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with rustle up
rustle up
Get together food or some other needed item with some effort, as in I don't know what we have but I'll rustle up a meal somehow, or You boys need to rustle up some wood for a campfire. The verb rustle here means “to assemble in a hurry.” [Late 1800s]
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.