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

noun

1. such a sound or sounds

rustle

²

/ ˈrʌsəl /

verb

1. to steal (cattle, horses, etc)
2. informal.
   to move swiftly and energetically

Derived Forms

• ˈrustlingly, adverb
• ˈrustling, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• rustling·ly adverb
• un·rustling adjective

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

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)

Example Sentences

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Popular-Science

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg