rusty

¹ American  

[ruhs-tee] / ˈrʌs ti /

adjective

rustier, rustiest

1. covered with or affected by rust.

2. consisting of or produced by rust.

3. of or tending toward the color rust; rust-colored.

4. faded or shabby; impaired by time or wear, as clothes or drapery.

5. impaired through disuse or neglect.

   My Latin is rusty.

6. having lost agility or alertness; out of practice.

   I am a bit rusty at tennis.

7. (of a sound) grating or harsh.

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rusty ² American  

[ruhs-tee] / ˈrʌs ti /

adjective

rustier, rustiest

1. restive; stubborn.

   a rusty horse.

2. Chiefly Dialect. ill-tempered; cross.

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Rusty ³ American  

[ruhs-tee] / ˈrʌs ti /

noun

1. a male or female given name.

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rusty British  

/ ˈrʌstɪ /

adjective

1. covered with, affected by, or consisting of rust

   a rusty machine

   a rusty deposit

2. of the colour rust

3. discoloured by age

   a rusty coat

4. (of the voice) tending to croak

5. old-fashioned in appearance; seemingly antiquated

   a rusty old gentleman

6. out of practice; impaired in skill or knowledge by inaction or neglect

7. (of plants) affected by the rust fungus

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Other Word Forms

• rustily adverb
• rustiness noun

Etymology

Origin of rusty¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English rusti, Old English rūstig; rust, -y ¹

Origin of rusty²

First recorded in 1555–65; apparently special use of rusty ¹, but compare obsolete resty restive

Example Sentences

But Draper's lack of recent court time also showed in some rusty returning as the match reached its critical stage.

From BBC

“He looked good. He was just a little rusty. He has a good arm and is going to help us out.”

From Los Angeles Times

But I bought an old, rusty metal birdcage the seller said was from France.

From Los Angeles Times

A sign hanging from a rusty ice-green shipping container installed by Thai forces on what they say is the border with Cambodia proclaims: "Cambodian citizens are strictly prohibited from entering this area."

From Barron's

“The other one was getting rusty, so I ordered this new model.”

From Literature