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rustle

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To rustle is things rubbing together or touching and making a soft sound.

(verb)

An example of rustle is to sort through a handful of papers.

To rustle means to gather or steal cows or horses.

(verb)

An example of rustle is to herd cattle.
An example of rustle is to steal a few cows from a ranch.

See rustle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb, transitive verb rustled, rustling

to make or cause to make an irregular succession of soft sounds, as of leaves being moved by a gentle breeze or of papers being shuffled

Origin: ME rustelen, freq. formation < ME rouslen, akin to earlier Fl ruysselen < WGmc echoic base

noun

such a succession of sounds

Related Forms:

rustlingly adverb

intransitive verb, transitive verb rustled, rustling

Informal to work or proceed with, or move, bring, or get by, energetic or vigorous action
☆
1. Archaic in the W U.S., to round up (cattle, horses, etc.)
2. Informal to steal (cattle, horses, etc.)

Origin: < ? rush + hustle

Related Forms:

rustler noun

See rustle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb rus·tled, rus·tling, rus·tles

verb, intransitive

To move with soft fluttering or crackling sounds.
To move or act energetically or with speed.
To forage food.
To steal livestock, especially cattle.

verb, transitive

To cause to rustle.
To obtain by rustling: rustled up some food in the kitchen.
To steal (livestock, especially cattle).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English rustlen

Origin: , perhaps of imitative origin

Related Forms:

rusˈtler noun

rusˈtling·ly adverb

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