英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

Rube Goldberg (adj.)[Rube Goldberg 词源字典]: 1940, from the U.S. cartoonist Reuben Lucius Goldberg (1883-1970) who devised fantastically complex gadgetry to accomplish simple tasks. His British counterpart was Heath Robinson (1872-1944).[Rube Goldberg etymology, Rube Goldberg origin, 英语词源]
rubella (n.): "German measles," 1883, Modern Latin, literally "rash," from neuter plural of Latin rubellus "reddish," diminutive of ruber "red" (see red (adj.1)).
Rubenesque (adj.): of a woman's body, "rounded and alluringly plump," 1904, of the type characteristic of the paintings of Flemish painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).
Rubicon (n.): in phrase to cross (or pass) the Rubicon "take a decisive step," 1620s, a reference to a small stream to the Adriatic on the coast of northern Italy which in ancient times formed part of the southern boundary of Cisalpine Gaul; crossed by Caesar Jan. 10, 49 B.C.E., when he left his province to attack Pompey. The name is from Latin rubicundus "ruddy," in reference to the color of the soil on its banks.
rubicund (adj.): "inclining to redness," c. 1500, from Middle French rubicond (14c.), or directly from Latin rubicundus, from rubere "to be red," from ruber "red" (see red (adj.1)). Related: Rubicundity.
Rubik's Cube (n.): 1980, named for teacher Ernö Rubik (b.1944) who patented it in Hungary in 1975.
ruble (n.): unit of the Russian monetary system, 1550s, via French rouble, from Russian rubl', perhaps from Old Russian rubiti "to chop, cut, hew," so called because the original metallic currency of Russia (14c.) consisted of silver bars, from which the necessary amount was cut off; from Proto-Slavic *rub-, from PIE root *reub-, *reup- "to snatch" (see rip (v.)).
rubric (n.): c. 1300, "directions in religious services" (often in red writing), from Old French rubrique, rubriche "rubric, title" (13c.), from Latin rubrica "red ochre, red coloring matter," from ruber, from PIE root *rudhro- (see red). Meaning "title or heading of a book" is from early 15c. Related: Rubrical.
ruby (n.): "clear rich-red variety of corundum," c. 1300, from Old French rubi (12c.), from Medieval Latin rubinus lapis "red stone" (source also of Italian rubino), from Latin rubeus "red," related to ruber (see red). As a color name from 1570s. As an adjective from late 15c. Modern French rubis is not explained; Klein suggests a plural mistaken for singular.
ruche (n.): "frill," 1827, from French ruche, literally "beehive" (13c.), of Celtic origin (compare Breton rusken), from Proto-Celtic *rusca "bark." Related: Ruched; ruching.
rucksack (n.): 1866, from German Rucksack, from Alpine dialect Rück "the back" (from German Rücken; see ridge) + Sack "sack" (see sack (n.1)).
ruckus (n.): 1890, possibly a blend of ruction and rumpus.
ruction (n.): "disturbance," 1825, dialectal or colloquial, of unknown origin. Perhaps from eruption or an altered shortening of insurrection.
rudder (n.): mid-15c. alteration of Middle English rother, from Old English roðor "paddle, oar," from Proto-Germanic *rothru- (cognates: Old Frisian roðer, Middle Low German roder, Middle Dutch roeder, Dutch roer, Old High German ruodar, German Ruder "oar"), from *ro- "steer" (see row (v.)) + suffix -þra, used to form neutral names of tools.

Meaning "broad, flat piece of wood attached to the stern of a boat and guided by a tiller for use in steering" is from c. 1300. For shift of -th- to -d- compare burden (n.1), murder (n.); simultaneous but opposite to the movement that turned -d- to -th- in father (n.), etc.
ruddock (n.): "robin," late Old English rudduc, from rudu "red color," related to read (see red (adj.1)) + diminutive suffix.
ruddy (adj.): late Old English rudig "rubicund," probably from rudu "redness," related to read "red" (see red (adj.1)). As a British slang euphemism for bloody (q.v.), first recorded 1914. Related: Ruddiness.
rude (adj.): late 13c., "coarse, rough" (of surfaces), from Old French ruide (13c.) or directly from Latin rudis "rough, crude, unlearned," perhaps related to rudus "rubble." Sense of "ill-mannered, uncultured; uneducated, uncultured" is from mid-14c. Rude boy (also rudie, for short) in Jamaican slang is attested from 1967. Figurative phrase rude awakening is attested from 1895.
rudely (adv.): mid-14c., from rude (adj.) + -ly (2).
rudesby (n.): "insolent person," 1560s, mock surname from rude + -by, common place-name (and thus surname) ending element, as in Grimsby, Rigby. Similar formations in idlesby, sneaksby "paltry, sneaking fellow" (1570s), suresby.
rudiment (n.): 1540s, from Middle French rudiment (16c.) or directly from Latin rudimentum "early training, first experience, beginning, first principle," from rudis "unlearned, untrained" (see rude). Related: Rudiments.