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Webster 1913 Edition
Ruddy
1.
Of a red color; red, or reddish;
as, a
. ruddy
sky; a ruddy
flameMilton.
They were more
ruddy
in body than rubies. Lam. iv. 7.
2.
Of a lively flesh color, or the color of the human skin in high health;
as,
. ruddy
cheeks or lipsDryden.
Ruddy duck
(Zool.)
, an American duck (
– Erismatura rubida
) having a broad bill and a wedge-shaped tail composed of stiff, sharp feathers. The adult male is rich brownish red on the back, sides, and neck, black on the top of the head, nape, wings, and tail, and white on the cheeks. The female and young male are dull brown mixed with blackish on the back; grayish below. Called also dunbird
, dundiver
, ruddy diver
, stifftail
, spinetail
, hardhead
, sleepy duck
, fool duck
, spoonbill
, etc. Ruddy plover
(Zool.)
the sanderling.
Rud′dy
,Verb.
T.
To make ruddy.
[R.]
Sir W. Scott.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ruddy
RUD'DY
, a.1.
Of a red color; of a lively flesh color, or the color of the human skin in high health. Thus we say, reddy cheeks, ruddy lips, a reddy face or skin, a ruddy youth; and in poetic language, ruddy fruit. But the word is chiefly applied to the human skin.2.
Of a bright yellow color; as ruddy gold. [Unusual.]