redd

¹

or red

[ red ]

verb (used with object)

, Northern and Midland U.S.

, redd or redd·ed, redd·ing.

1. to put in order; tidy:

   to redd a room for company.

2. to clear:

   to redd the way.

redd

²

[ red ]

noun

1. the spawning area or nest of trout or salmon.

redd

¹

/ rɛd /

noun

1. a hollow in sand or gravel on a river bed, scooped out as a spawning place by salmon, trout, or other fish

redd

²

/ rɛd /

verb

1. troften foll byup to bring order to; tidy (up)

noun

1. the act or an instance of redding

Derived Forms

• ˈredder, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of redd¹

before 900; apparently conflation of 2 words: Middle English ( Scots ) reden to clear, clean up (a space, land), Old English gerǣdan to put in order (cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German rêden, reiden; akin to ready ); and Middle English ( Scots ) redden to rid, free, clear, Old English hreddan to save, deliver, rescue (cognate with Old Frisian hredda, German retten )

Origin of redd²

First recorded in 1640–50; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of redd¹

C17 (originally: spawn): of obscure origin

Origin of redd²

C15 redden to clear, perhaps a variant of rid

Example Sentences

“Properly handled and carefully redd out, his is a story that could scarcely fail to have some consequence,” he continued.

From Project Gutenberg

But an ye'll hae my opinion, I redd ye keep your mouth better steekit, if ye hope to speed.

From Project Gutenberg

A good bugaboo, of course, as at home it always pays to have visitors, we redd up the house so carefully.

From Project Gutenberg

Of redd gold shines the yate; Of twenty foure faire ladyes there, The fairest is my mate.

From Project Gutenberg

Of redd gold shines the towre: There are twenty four fair ladyes there, The fairest is my paramoure.

From Project Gutenberg