subs. (colloquial).—1. The mob (B. E., c. 1696); whence (2) = rubbish. Hence TO COME IN WITH THE RUCK (or TO RUCK IN) = to come in unnoticed, or (racing) unplaced.
1846. Punch, xi. 15.
| Who floor’d Sir Robin?… | |
| Who headed the RUCK? | |
| “I,” said Lord George, so able, | |
| Racy speech and mind stable, | |
| “And I headed the RUCK.” |
1857. O. W. HOLMES, The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, iv. First turn in the race…. Several show in advance of the RUCK.
1864. Derby Day, 18. It will be unpleasant for me if Ascapart is in the RUCK.
1874. M. and F. COLLINS, Frances, xxiii. I don’t care for Americans myself, men or women…. The RUCK want educating.
1879. R. H. DAVIS, Gallegher, in Scribner’s Magazine, VIII. 159. He’s stuck up and citified, and wears gloves … and all that sort of RUCK.
1893. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 75, ‘On Marriage.’ Then they looks for a Missus with money, and RUCKS IN along o’ the rest.
d. 1893. SIR S. W. BAKER, In the Heart of Africa, 112. I soon found myself in the RUCK of men, horses, and drawn swords.
Verb. (common).—1. To inform; TO SPLIT (q.v.); (2) = to turn RUSTY (q.v.); and (3) to drag or crease.
1884. Daily News, 20 Sept., 2, 2. I told the prisoner that I was not going to RUCK ON an old pal.
1889. Answers, 13 April, 313. To such of their own fraternity who RUCK or “blab” upon them, they most certainly entertain feelings of the deepest hatred.
1893. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 71, ‘On the Glorious Twelfth.’ Mine RUCKED when I turned up in trousers big black and white pattern in checks.
1894. G. EGERTON, Keynotes, 177. They [trousers] RUCK UP at the knees.
TO RUCK (or RUCKET) ALONG, verb. phr. (Oxford University).—To walk quickly.
