russet

/ˈɹʌsɪt/

//ˈɹʌsɪt// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"russet" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“russet” is an uncommon English word, ranked #56,415 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#56,415
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A reddish-brown color.

Key facts for russet
PropertyValue
Headwordrusset
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹʌsɪt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#56,415
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “russet” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). russet lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for russet is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹʌsɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #56,415 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

russet has no tracked misspelling variants, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English russet, from Anglo-Norman russet, rossat, roset, and Middle French rosset, rousset (“reddish, reddish-brown; a rough wool cloth”), from Middle French rous, rus (“to rouse”) + -et (diminutive suffix); compare Late Latin rossetum, russetum… The correct English form is russet, spelled R-U-S-S-E-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A reddish-brown color.
  2. 2
    A coarse, reddish-brown, homespun fabric; clothes made with such fabric.
  3. 3
    A variety of apple with rough, russet-colored skin.
  4. 4
    A variety of potato with rough, dark gray-brown skin.

Etymology

From Middle English russet, from Anglo-Norman russet, rossat, roset, and Middle French rosset, rousset (“reddish, reddish-brown; a rough wool cloth”), from Middle French rous, rus (“to rouse”) + -et (diminutive suffix); compare Late Latin rossetum, russetum, russeta (“rough wool cloth”), Latin russus (“red”) (from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- (“red”)), Occitan rosseta (“rough wool cloth”).

This word in other languages

ocre(Español)roux(Français)Renette(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "russet"?
"russet" is spelled R-U-S-S-E-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹʌsɪt/.
What does "russet" mean?
As a noun, "russet" means: A reddish-brown color.
How do you pronounce "russet"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "russet" is /ˈɹʌsɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "russet"?
From Middle English russet, from Anglo-Norman russet, rossat, roset, and Middle French rosset, rousset (“reddish, reddish-brown; a rough wool cloth”), from Middle French rous, rus (“to rouse”) + -et (diminutive suffix); compare Late Latin rossetum... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “russet”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-U-S-S-E-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɹʌsɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list