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Added 10 October 2026

ruddock

/ˈɹʌdək/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about ruddock at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The European robin.
A piece of gold money (probably because the gold of coins was often reddened by copper alloy).
A variety of red apple, used for cidermaking.

Origin

From Middle English ruddocke, ruddok, roddok, from Old English rudduc, ruduc (“robin, ruddock”, literally “little red one, red-ling”), equivalent to rud (“redness”) + -ock (diminutive suffix). The Welsh rhuddog, and Cornish rudhek (“the redbreast”) are probably from the English, although a derivation from a British Celtic *roudākos (< *roudos "red") for all three cannot be ruled out. More at rud.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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