ruddle

R1U1D2D2L1E1
/ˈɹʌdəl/

noun

A form of red ochre sometimes used to mark sheep.

Similar
raddlereddlereddeninterlaceinterweavebetwinebraidentwist
UncommonScrabble 8
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Meanings

ruddle1

nounruddle (countable and uncountable, plural ruddles)

plural ruddles

  1. countableuncountableA form of red ochre sometimes used to mark sheep.
  2. countableobsoleteuncountableRuddiness; red coloration.
verbruddle (third-person singular simple present ruddles, present participle ruddling, simple past and past participle ruddled)

present singular third person ruddles · participle present ruddling · participle past ruddled · past ruddled

  1. To mark something with red ochre.

    Synonyms: raddle, redden, reddle

  2. To raddle or twist.

    Synonyms: interlace, interweave, raddle, betwine, braid, entwist, entwine, interlace

ruddle2

nounruddle (plural ruddles)

plural ruddles

  1. A riddle or sieve.

    They will not passe thorough the holes of the sieve, ruddle or trie, if they be narrow.

    1603, Plutarch, translated by Philemon Holland, The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC
verbruddle (third-person singular simple present ruddles, present participle ruddling, simple past and past participle ruddled)

present singular third person ruddles · participle present ruddling · participle past ruddled · past ruddled

  1. transitiveTo sift together; to mix, as through a sieve.

Ruddle3

proper nounRuddle (countable and uncountable, plural Ruddles)

plural Ruddles

  1. countableuncountableA surname.
  2. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Pendleton County, West Virginia, United States.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo mark something with red ochre.

Similar
raddlereddenreddle

verbTo raddle or twist.

Similar
interlaceinterweaveraddlebetwinebraidentwistentwineinterlaceinterthreadintertwineintertwistinterweavelacelockraddletwinetwist
Similar
raddlereddle

More synonyms by meaning

nouna red iron ore used in dyeing and marking

Similar
reddleraddle
Broader
iron ore

verbtwist or braid together, interlace

Similar
raddle
Broader
weaveinterweave
Also see
betwinebraidentwineinterlaceinterthreadintertwineintertwistinterweavelacelockraddlereddletwinetwist

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

ruddle · noun, verb

From rud + -le. Compare German Rötel (“track”), Post-Classical Latin rudellum. Compare to reddle and raddle.

Full word history & related roots →

Ruddle · proper noun

Variant of Ruddell.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with ruddle

puddlecuddlehuddlemuddlebuddlefuddlecruddleguddleLemnian ruddlescuddlespuddle
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

ruddle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruddle

MLA

“ruddle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruddle. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ruddle,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruddle.

Source: ruddle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.