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View synonyms for rustle

rustle

[ ruhs-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, rus·tled, rus·tling.
  1. to make a succession of slight, soft sounds, as of parts rubbing gently one on another, as leaves, silks, or papers.
  2. to cause such sounds by moving or stirring something.
  3. to move, proceed, or work energetically:

    Rustle around and see what you can find.



verb (used with object)

, rus·tled, rus·tling.
  1. to move or stir so as to cause a rustling sound:

    The wind rustled the leaves.

  2. to move, bring, or get by energetic action:

    I'll go rustle some supper.

  3. to steal (livestock, especially cattle).

noun

  1. the sound made by anything that rustles:

    the rustle of leaves.

verb phrase

  1. Informal. to find, gather, or assemble by effort or search:

    to rustle up some wood for a fire.

rustle

1

/ ˈrʌsəl /

verb

  1. to make or cause to make a low crisp whispering or rubbing sound, as of dry leaves or paper
  2. to move with such a sound
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. such a sound or sounds
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

rustle

2

/ ˈrʌsəl /

verb

  1. to steal (cattle, horses, etc)
  2. informal.
    to move swiftly and energetically
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈrustlingly, adverb
  • ˈrustling, adjectivenoun
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Other Words From

  • rustling·ly adverb
  • un·rustling adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rustle1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb rustlen; compare Frisian russelje, Dutch ridselen; imitative of the sound
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rustle1

Old English hrūxlian ; related to Gothic hrukjan to crow ², Old Norse hraukr raven, crow 1

Origin of rustle2

C19: probably special use of rustle 1(in the sense: to move with quiet sound)
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Example Sentences

For one, O’Connell masters every rustle, movement of the body, caught breath, laugh, rise of emotion.

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors survived by assuming every rustle in the grasses was a lurking hungry lion, not harmless birds hunting for seeds.

They would rustle and tussle it for like three minutes and that was it!

Prepared with paper to rustle, rice to shake, and water to ripple.

In her hand she held a silk map of the region, given to agents to avoid the giveaway rustle of paper in pockets.

If I can rustle horses I'll send these two boys on home, with a note to the old man explaining how the play came up.

But the fronds of a palm-tree in the wind produce a noise that is unlike the rustle of any other foliage in the world.

And before he had finished smiling, over the parquet floor behind him there came the light rustle of a dress.

The faint rustle of the Black Hood's cape caused the messenger on the ground to look up.

There was a rustle of expectancyupon the girls side, at leastat Assembly on Monday morning.

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