rufous
rufous Lexical Profile
rufous Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Reddish-brown or rust-colored in appearance, especially in reference to the plumage of birds, the fur of mammals, or the surface of fungi and plants.
"The male hummingbird flashed its bright rufous tail feathers as it hovered near the feeder."
• noun
A reddish-brown or rust-red color, similar to oxidized iron.
"The artist mixed burnt sienna and ochre to capture the warm rufous of the fox's winter coat."
North American A small, feisty migratory hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) native to western North America, characterized by rusty-orange plumage and a brilliant iridescent scarlet throat patch in males (used informally as short for rufous hummingbird).
"Every late summer, a territorial rufous claims the salvia patch in our backyard during its southward migration."
Word Nuance & Usage
Primarily used in ornithology, botany, and zoology to describe the rust-red or reddish-brown coloration of feathers, fur, or plant parts.
• Rhymes for rufous
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 18th century from Latin rufus, meaning 'red' or 'red-haired', combined with the English adjectival suffix -ous.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.