rusty

rusty · adjective¹

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*rustagaz“rusty”
2. Old English · inherited fromrūstiġ“rusty”
3. Middle English · inherited fromrusty
4. English todayrusty

From Middle English rusty, from Old English rūstiġ (“rusty”), from Proto-Germanic *rustagaz (“rusty”), equivalent to rust + -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian rusterch (“rusty”), West Frisian rustich, roastich (“rusty”), Dutch roestig (“rusty”), German Low German rusterig, rüsterig (“rusty”), German rostig (“rusty”), Swedish rostig (“rusty”).

rusty · noun²

Ellipsis of rusty one more often used for this, or from the general epithet rusty given to various particular firearm names—earlier both were applied in Cockney rhyming slang for other machines, including swords in their day, but the present coinage has not more than a loose connection to this and is from the preference for used or antique firearms due to their being easier or cheaper to obtain.

rusty · adjective³

Variant form of resty; compare also reasty.

First known use, by meaning

• from 9th c. Marked or corroded by rust.
• from 14th c. Of the rust color, reddish or reddish-brown.
• from 16th c. Lacking recent experience, out of practice, especially with respect to a skill or activity.
• from 17th c. Of clothing, especially dark clothing: worn, shabby.
• from 16th c. Discolored and rancid; reasty.