# ruddock

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹʌdək/ · frequency rank #83,694

## Definitions
1. The European robin.
2. A piece of gold money (probably because the gold of coins was often reddened by copper alloy).
3. A variety of red apple, used for cidermaking.

## Etymology
From Middle English ruddocke, ruddok, roddok, from Old English rudduc, ruduc (“robin, ruddock”, literally “little red one, red-ling”), equivalent to rud (“redness”) + -ock (diminutive suffix). The Welsh rhuddog, and Cornish rudhek (“the redbreast”) are probably from the English, although a derivation from a British Celtic *roudākos (< *roudos "red") for all three cannot be ruled out. More at rud.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ruddock