Ruddy duck(Zoöl.), an American duck (Erismatura rubida) having a broad bill and a wedge-shaped tail composed of stiff, sharp feathers. The adult male is rich brownish red on the back, sides, and neck, black on the top of the head, nape, wings, and tail, and white on the cheeks. The female and young male are dull brown mixed with blackish on the back; grayish below. Called also dunbird, dundiver, ruddy diver, stifftail, spinetail, hardhead, sleepy duck, fool duck, spoonbill, etc.Ruddy plover (Zoöl.) the sanderling.

Ruddy
(Rud"dy), v. t. To make ruddy. [R.] Sir W. Scott.

Rude
(Rude) a. [Compar. Ruder ; superl. Rudest.] [F., fr. L. rudis.]

1. Characterized by roughness; umpolished; raw; lacking delicacy or refinement; coarse.

Such gardening tools as art, yet rude, . . . had formed.
Milton.

2. Hence, specifically: (a) Unformed by taste or skill; not nicely finished; not smoothed or polished; — said especially of material things; as, rude workmanship. "Rude was the cloth." Chaucer.

Rude and unpolished stones.
Bp. Stillingfleet.

The heaven-born child
All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies.
Milton.

(b) Of untaught manners; unpolished; of low rank; uncivil; clownish; ignorant; raw; unskillful; — said of persons, or of conduct, skill, and the like. "Mine ancestors were rude." Chaucer.

He was but rude in the profession of arms.
Sir H. Wotton.

the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
Gray.

(c) Violent; tumultuous; boisterous; inclement; harsh; severe; — said of the weather, of storms, and the like; as, the rude winter.

[Clouds] pushed with winds, rude in their shock.
Milton.

The rude agitation [of water] breaks it into foam.
Boyle.

Ruddock to Ruffle

Ruddock
(Rud"dock) n. [AS. ruddic; cf. W. rhuddog the redbreast. &radic113. See Rud, n.] [Written also raddock.]

1. (Zoöl.) The European robin. "The tame ruddock and the coward kite." Chaucer.

2. A piece of gold money; — probably because the gold of coins was often reddened by copper alloy. Called also red ruddock, and golden ruddock. [Obs.]

Great pieces of gold . . . red ruddocks.
Florio.

Ruddy
(Rud"dy) a. [Compar. Ruddier ; superl. Ruddiest.] [AS. rudig. See Rud, n.]

1. Of a red color; red, or reddish; as, a ruddy sky; a ruddy flame. Milton.

They were more ruddy in body than rubies.
Lam. iv. 7.

2. Of a lively flesh color, or the color of the human skin in high health; as, ruddy cheeks or lips. Dryden.


  By PanEris using Melati.

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