Rug Meaning
/ˈɹʌɡ/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA partial covering for a floor.
nounA (usually thick) piece of fabric used for warmth (especially on a bed); a blanket.
Sentence Examples
I put down a rug under my desk.
Please beat the rug, first.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
She placed a soft colorful ____ on the wooden floor in the center of the room.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She placed a thick woolen ____ in front of the fireplace to keep her feet warm.
Word Origin & History
Uncertain; probably of North Germanic origin; perhaps inherited via Middle English *rugge (suggested by Middle English ruggy (“hairy, shaggy, bristly”) and rugged (“hairy, shaggy, rugged”)), from Old Norse rǫgg (“shagginess, tuft”), from Proto-Germanic *rawwō (“long wool”), probably related to *rūhaz (“rough”), related to English rag and rough. Cognate with dialectal Norwegian rugga (“coarse coverlet”), Swedish rugg (“rough entangled hair”), related to English rag and rough. Compare also Old English rȳhe (“rug, rough covering, blanket”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"They then cut down a quantity of gum-tree leaves for a bed, and threw their rugs upon them ready for bed-time."
— 1855, William Howitt, A Boy′s Adventures in the Wilds of Australia: or, Herbert′s Note-Book, page 254:
"Furnish every sleeping apartment with a sufficient number of toilet utensils and bedsteads, and sufficient bedding so that each bed shall be provided with a mattress, two sheets, a rug, and, in winter time, not less than one additional rug."
— 1906 July 27, Government Gazette of Western Australia, page 2297:
"He brought with him a rug and a sheet, and lay down by the fire."
— 1997, Alan Sharpe, Vivien Encel, Murder!: 25 True Australian Crimes, page 22:
"They spin the choicest rug in Ireland. A friend of mine […] repaired to Paris Garden clad in one of these Waterford rugs."
— 1577, Raphaell Holinshed; Richarde Stanyhurst [i.e., Richard Stanihurst], “The Historie of Irelande […]”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Hunne, →OCLC:
"The intervening years have been kind to Edward Fox and John Wells, who now assume the principal roles, in allowing them to keep their full complement of hair. Mr Fox shows his gratitude by using his rug as a prop, flopping it forward, Welsh-combing it back, letting it stand up on end as if from shock, while Mr Wells is content mostly to let his limply swathe his forehead."
— 1985 July 12, Martin Cropper, “Theatre: The Philanthropist”, in The Times, number 62,188, London, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 15, column 7:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She placed a soft colorful ____ on the wooden floor in the center of the room.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She placed a thick woolen ____ in front of the fireplace to keep her feet warm.