adjective
ruddy
RUH-dee
adjective
1
Having a healthy reddish color, especially in the face.
"The children came in from the cold with ruddy cheeks."
2
(British, informal) Used to add emphasis, often expressing annoyance.
"That's a ruddy nuisance."
How to Use Ruddy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving a healthy red-cheeked glow — or, informally in Britain, a way to add emphasis similar to "bloody" but milder.
When to use it
The intensifier sense is old-fashioned British slang, softer than "bloody."
Word Forms
ruddier comparative, ruddied past tense, ruddies plural, ruddies singular, ruddiest superlative
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Etymology
From Old English rudiġ, related to "rud" (redness) — the mild-swear sense developed later as a polite substitute for "bloody."