ruck
A throng or crowd of people or thingsA throng or crowd of people or things; a mass, a pack.
Meaning
11 sensesA throng or crowd of people or things; a mass, a pack.
a crowd especially of ordinary or undistinguished persons or things
In Australian rules football
A contest in games in which the ball is thrown or bounced in the air and two players from opposing teams attempt to give their team an advantage, typically by tapping the ball to a teammate.
A player who competes in said contests; a ruckman or ruckwoman.
Any one of a ruckman, a ruck rover or a rover; a follower.
The situation formed when a player carrying the ball is brought to the ground and one or more members of each side are engaged above the ball, trying to win possession of it; a loose scrum.
The common mass of people or things; the ordinary ranks.
(colloquial)An argument or fight.
A crease, a wrinkle, a pucker, as on fabric.
(especially, slang)A rucksack; a large backpack.
A small heifer.
In Australian rules football
(archaic)Either of a ruckman or a ruck rover, but not a rover.
Origin
From Middle English ruke, from or related to Old Norse hraukr, which is from Proto-GermaniFrom Middle English ruke, from or related to Old Norse hraukr, which is from Proto-Germanic *hraukaz (“haystack, heap”). Compare Icelandic hrúka, Swedish ruka.
1780, from Old Norse hrukka (“wrinkle, crease”), from Proto-Germanic *hrunkijō, *hrunkitō (“fold, wrinkle”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to turn, bend”).
Clipping of rucksack.
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