n. [ AS. rust; akin to D. roest, G. & Sw. rost, Icel. ryð; -- named from its color, and akin to E. red. √113. See Red. ] 1. (Chem.) The reddish yellow coating formed on iron when exposed to moist air, consisting of ferric oxide or hydroxide; hence, by extension, any metallic film of corrosion. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A minute mold or fungus forming reddish or rusty spots on the leaves and stems of cereal and other grasses (Trichobasis Rubigo-vera), now usually believed to be a form or condition of the corn mildew (Puccinia graminis). As rust, it has solitary reddish spores; as corn mildew, the spores are double and blackish. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Rust is also applied to many other minute fungi which infest vegetation, such as the species of Ustilago, Uredo, and Lecythea. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which resembles rust in appearance or effects. Specifically: (a) A composition used in making a rust joint. See Rust joint, below. (b) Foul matter arising from degeneration; as, rust on salted meat. (c) Corrosive or injurious accretion or influence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sacred truths cleared from all rust and dross of human mixtures. Eikon Basilike. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Rust is used in the formation of compounds of obvious meaning; as, rust-colored, rust-consumed, rust-eaten, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rust joint, a joint made between surfaces of iron by filling the space between them with a wet mixture of cast-iron borings, sal ammoniac, and sulphur, which by oxidation becomes hard, and impervious to steam, water, etc. --
Rust mite (Zool.), a minute mite (Phytopius oleivorus) which, by puncturing the rind, causes the rust-colored patches on oranges. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To cause to contract rust; to corrode with rust; to affect with rust of any kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: To impair by time and inactivity. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rusting. ] [ AS. rustian. ] 1. To contract rust; to be or become oxidized. [ 1913 Webster ]

If gold ruste, what shall iron do? Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our armors now may rust. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be affected with the parasitic fungus called rust; also, to acquire a rusty appearance, as plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fig.: To degenerate in idleness; to become dull or impaired by inaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Must I rust in Egypt? never more
Appear in arms, and be the chief of Greece? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of rust; resembling rust; causing rust; rusty. “Rustful sloth.” Quarles. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. rusticus, fr. rus, ruris, the country: cf. F. rustique. See Rural. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the country; rural; as, the rustic gods of antiquity. “Rustic lays.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

And many a holy text around she strews,
That teach the rustic moralist to die. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

She had a rustic, woodland air. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Rude; awkward; rough; unpolished; as, rustic manners. “A rustic muse.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Coarse; plain; simple; as, a rustic entertainment; rustic dress. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Simple; artless; unadorned; unaffected. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rustic moth (Zool.), any moth belonging to Agrotis and allied genera. Their larvae are called cutworms. See Cutworm. --
Rustic work. (a) (Arch.) Cut stone facing which has the joints worked with grooves or channels, the face of each block projecting beyond the joint, so that the joints are very conspicuous. (b) (Arch. & Woodwork) Summer houses, or furniture for summer houses, etc., made of rough limbs of trees fancifully arranged. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Rural; rude; unpolished; inelegant; untaught; awkward; rough; coarse; plain; unadorned; simple; artless; honest. See Rural. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An inhabitant of the country, especially one who is rude, coarse, or dull; a clown. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hence to your fields, you rustics! hence, away. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A rural person having a natural simplicity of character or manners; an artless, unaffected person. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Rustic. “Rustical society.” Thackeray. -- Rus"tic*al*ly, adv. -- Rus"tic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To require or compel to reside in the country; to banish or send away temporarily; to impose rustication on. [ 1913 Webster ]

The town is again beginning to be full, and the rusticated beauty sees an end of her banishment. Idler. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rusticated p. pr. & vb. n. Rusticating. ] [ L. rusticaticus, p. p. of rusticari to rusticate. See Rustic. ] To go into or reside in the country; to ruralize. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Arch.) Resembling rustic work. See Rustic work (a), under Rustic. [ 1913 Webster ]