ruck
ruck Lexical Profile
ruck Game Scores & Validity
• noun
In rugby union, a loose scrum formed around the ball when it is on the ground, in which players from both teams bind together and push to win possession.
"The forwards quickly bound together over the tackled player to secure the ball in the ruck."
American A rucksack or heavy backpack, or a brisk hike or march performed while carrying a weighted backpack.
"We went on a five-mile ruck through the hills to build our endurance for the upcoming mountain expedition."
A tightly packed crowd or mass of ordinary people or things; the main body of competitors in a race who have fallen behind the leaders.
"By the halfway mark of the marathon, the defending champion had broken away from the ruck."
An irregular crease, fold, or wrinkle in a piece of cloth or garment.
"She smoothed out the ruck in the heavy tablecloth before setting out the dinner plates."
• verb
To form or participate in a ruck in order to contest possession of the ball on the ground (in rugby).
"The opposing pack rucked aggressively throughout the second half to dominate possession."
American To walk, hike, or march briskly over a distance while carrying a weighted rucksack or backpack.
"The outdoor club rucked ten miles along the ridge trail with thirty-pound packs."
To develop or cause to develop irregular folds, creases, or wrinkles (often used with 'up').
"The thin hall carpet always rucks up whenever someone pushes the heavy door open."
• Rhymes for ruck
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The senses relating to a crowd or heap and to a crease in fabric derive from Middle English, borrowed from Old Norse 'hrukka' (meaning 'a wrinkle or fold') and 'hruga' (meaning 'a heap or pile'). The backpacking sense is a 20th-century shortening of 'rucksack', from German 'Rucksack' (literally 'back-bag').