rusty

¹

[ ruhs-tee ]

adjective

, rust·i·er, rust·i·est.

1. covered with or affected by rust.
2. consisting of or produced by rust.
3. of or tending toward the color rust; rust-colored.
4. faded or shabby; impaired by time or wear, as clothes or drapery.
5. impaired through disuse or neglect:

   My Latin is rusty.

6. having lost agility or alertness; out of practice:

   I am a bit rusty at tennis.

7. (of a sound) grating or harsh.

rusty

²

[ ruhs-tee ]

adjective

, rust·i·er, rust·i·est.

1. restive; stubborn:

   a rusty horse.

2. Chiefly Dialect. ill-tempered; cross.

Rusty

³

[ ruhs-tee ]

noun

1. a male or female given name.

rusty

/ ˈrʌstɪ /

adjective

1. covered with, affected by, or consisting of rust

   a rusty deposit

   a rusty machine

2. of the colour rust
3. discoloured by age

   a rusty coat

4. (of the voice) tending to croak
5. old-fashioned in appearance; seemingly antiquated

   a rusty old gentleman

6. out of practice; impaired in skill or knowledge by inaction or neglect
7. (of plants) affected by the rust fungus

Derived Forms

• ˈrustily, adverb
• ˈrustiness, noun

Other Words From

• rusti·ly adverb
• rusti·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rusty¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English rusti, Old English rūstig; rust, -y ¹

Origin of rusty²

First recorded in 1555–65; apparently special use of rusty ¹, but compare obsolete resty restive

Example Sentences

Arsenal have a doubt over Declan Rice which is a worry for them, and Martin Odegaard will be rusty after returning from his layoff with a brief appearance against Inter Milan in midweek, but it is Palmer who holds the key.

From BBC

The Prince of Wales has dusted off what he called his “rusty” rugby skills with some legends of the sport on a visit to a township outside Cape Town.

From BBC

Even those with greater experience, such as the 30-year-old Overton, looked rusty, as the Surrey player was dismissed lbw for a first-ball duck by Motie.

From BBC

Southern California beaches have recently experienced a “red tide” bloom of microscopic algae known as dinoflagellate, which give the ocean a rusty brown hue during the day and an electric blue glow when agitated by waves or other movement at night.

From Los Angeles Times

You know the type — the kind you want to torture with a rusty butter knife for camping out in the fast lane, then passing you, only to slow down after they’ve gotten in front of you.

From Salon