ruddle

UK: /ˈrʌd^əl/ US: (rud′l)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

rud•dle  (rud′l), n., v., -dled, -dling. 
n. 

1. a red variety of ocher, used for marking sheep, coloring, etc.

v.t. 

2. to mark or color with ruddle.

Also, raddle, reddle. 

• dialect, dialectal rud (see rudd) + -le 1530–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ruddle / ˈrʌd^əl/, raddle, reddle noun

1. a red ochre, used esp to mark sheep

verb

1. (transitive) to mark (sheep) with ruddle

Etymology: 16th Century: diminutive formed from Old English rudu redness; see rudd