rustle

[ruhs-uh l] /ˈrʌs əl/
verb (used without object), rustled, rustling.
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), rustled, rustling.
4.
to move or stir so as to cause a rustling sound:
The wind rustled the leaves.
5.
to move, bring, or get by energetic action:
I'll go rustle some supper.
6.
to steal (livestock, especially cattle).
noun
7.
the sound made by anything that rustles:
the rustle of leaves.
Verb phrases
8.
rustle up, Informal. to find, gather, or assemble by effort or search:
to rustle up some wood for a fire.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English rustlen (v.); compare Frisian russelje, Dutch ridselen; of imitative orig.
Related forms
rustlingly, adverb
unrustling, adjective
Examples from the web for rustle
  • Lunch arrives in a rustle of brown paper bags at a table under white birches.
  • Even if the authorities rustle up the money, they can ill afford to dawdle.
  • The bedroom's lace curtains rustle in a cool spring breeze, filtering dots of sunlight onto a four-poster bed.
  • It's not difficult to rustle up some possible reasons for all this.
  • They might hear the rustle of paper, buses or birds outside the window, or students talking in the hallway.
  • It failed even to rustle up a candidate for comptroller.
  • The leaves of ten foot-tall poplar trees glisten in the sun and rustle in the wind.
  • The only sounds are the slight rustle of leaves and an occasional bird.
  • The turnout for registration was so low that the government had to extend the deadline by a week to rustle up voters.
  • With a rustle of branches, he goes deeper into the forest.
British Dictionary definitions for rustle

rustle1

/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
3.
such a sound or sounds
Derived Forms
rustling, adjective, noun
rustlingly, adverb
Word Origin
Old English hrūxlian; related to Gothic hrukjan to crow², Old Norse hraukr raven, crow1

rustle2

/ˈrʌsəl/
verb
1.
(mainly US & Canadian) to steal (cattle, horses, etc)
2.
(US & Canadian, informal) to move swiftly and energetically
Word Origin
C19: probably special use of rustle1 (in the sense: to move with quiet sound)
Word Origin and History for rustle
v.

"to emit soft, rapid sounds," late 14c. (implied in rustling), of uncertain origin, perhaps imitative (cf. Middle Low German ruschen, Middle Dutch ruusscen, German rauschen "to rustle"). Related: Rustled; rustling. Meaning "steal" (especially cattle) first attested 1882, probably from earlier American English slang sense of "move about vigorously" (1844), perhaps a separate word, compounded from rush and hustle.

n.

1759, from rustle (v.).

Slang definitions & phrases for rustle

rustle

verb
  1. (also rustle one's bustle) To bestir oneself; GET OFF one's ASS (1882+)
  2. (also rustle up) To find and produce: where I knew I could rustle up the Lompoc phone book (1844+)

[origin unknown; perhaps fr rush plus hustle]