ruddy
UK[ˈrʌdi]US[ˈrʌdi]
adj
Having a reddish color, often used to describe a healthy complexion.
adj
Used as a mild intensifier, especially in British English.
Etymology
The word 'ruddy' originates from the Old English 'rudig', meaning 'reddish' or 'red-complexioned', which itself is derived from 'rudu', signifying 'redness'. This Old English root is connected to the Proto-Germanic 'rud-', a base associated with the color red. The term's journey reflects a straightforward descriptive function, evolving from a literal descriptor of a red or healthy skin tone to also serve as a mild, often euphemistic, intensifier in modern British colloquial speech, maintaining its core association with redness throughout its history.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form derived from the Old English 'rudig', which is related to 'rudu', meaning 'redness'. It is not productively formed from separable modern English morphemes.
Examples
The cold wind gave her cheeks a ruddy glow.
He was a tall man with a ruddy face and bright eyes.
That's a ruddy nuisance!