Talk:ruddy

Long ago I was taught in school that this word should be pronounced /ˈruːdi/ just like the name Rudy (rhymes with moody). Is this a legitimate alternate pronunciation, or was my teacher mistaken?

I think the teacher was mistaken; I've never heard it that way, and Chambers has no such pronunciation. Equinox ◑ 13:56, 17 February 2017 (UTC)Reply

The "ruddies", which are referred to in the quotation of this entry are definitely Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis) and not Ruddy Shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea). Thomas edlund (talk) 13:05, 23 July 2012 (UTC)Reply

My mistake apparently. Fixed. Equinox ◑ 13:12, 23 July 2012 (UTC)Reply

In the Etymology section there is a link to Old English "rudu", but there is no Old English section on the page for "rudu". 69.135.193.98 15:15, 2 December 2015 (UTC)Reply

"Rudu", as Old English for "redness" is well substantiated, and is reputed to be from "rēodan" (to be red); but, because of the common Celtic vowel "u" in RUA = older Irish RUADH, Cornish RÜTH (red); it may have been handed down through the Celtic, or else a hybrid of Celtic and Germanic. Please compare ruddock and also beneath "Etymology2" under rud. Andrew H. Gray 10:25, 23 January 2016 (UTC) Andrew (talk)

...since it rhymes, and can be used in the same situations. If so, we should mention this. Equinox ◑ 13:56, 17 February 2017 (UTC)Reply

It would seem so. Wikipedia provides evidence of this. The Canadian comic strip For Better or for Worse had the father once say "Why didnt you mow the ruddy lawn?" Even as a kid, I knew this was a euphemism for something, but it wasn't until much later that I realized it was for bloody. That shows that the euphemism has at least occasional use outside the UK. —Soap— 13:41, 22 June 2020 (UTC)Reply