Link Centre Dictionary

rustle

UK/ˈɹʌsəl/ US/ˈrʌsʌl/ uncommon
verb (2) noun (1)

verb

1.

make a dry crackling sound

  • “rustling silk”
  • “the dry leaves were rustling in the breeze”
2.

take illegally

  • “rustle cattle”
Synonyms

noun

1.

the light noise like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English rustelen, russelen, of uncertain origin, but probably from Old English hrūxlian, hristlan, hrystlan, hristlian (“to make a noise”). Compare also Scots reesle (“to crackle; rattle; rustle”), West Frisian risselje, Dutch ritselen (“to rustle”), Afrikaans ritsel (“to rustle”), German rascheln (“to rustle”).

Phrases

  • rustle someone's jim-jams
  • rustle someone's jimmies
  • rustle time
  • rustle up

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.