# rustle

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹʌsəl/ · frequency rank #40,883

## Definitions
1. A soft crackling sound similar to the movement of dry leaves.
2. A movement producing such a sound.

## Etymology
From Middle English rustelen, russelen, of uncertain origin, but probably from Old English hrūxlian, hristlan, hrystlan, hristlian (“to make a noise”). Compare also Scots reesle (“to crackle; rattle; rustle”), West Frisian risselje, Dutch ritselen (“to rustle”), Afrikaans ritsel (“to rustle”), German rascheln (“to rustle”).

## Easily confused with
- **rusty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rustle-vs-rusty)
- **rule** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rule-vs-rustle)
- **rust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rust-vs-rustle)
- **ruse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ruse-vs-rustle)
- **ruble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ruble-vs-rustle)
- **rubble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rubble-vs-rustle)
- **rumble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rumble-vs-rustle)
- **rustic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rustic-vs-rustle)
- **rattle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rattle-vs-rustle)
- **resale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resale-vs-rustle)
- **ruffle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ruffle-vs-rustle)
- **Russell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/russell-vs-rustle)
- **Russel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/russel-vs-rustle)

## Common misspellings (9)
`rrustle`, `rsutle`, `ruslte`, `russtle`, `rustel`, `rustlle`, `rusttle`, `rutsle`, `urstle`

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