ruckus English · revision 1300

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹʌkəs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of obscure origin,^(Etymonline) probably a blend of [[ruction]] and [[rumpus]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Etymonline notes that the early spellings vary widely: ''roocus'', ''rucus'', ''rukus'', ''rookus''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A commotion or disorderly disturbance (1872, as ''roocus'', in Missouri).^(Etymonline) Barnhart and the OED date it to 1890.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was at first a regional word of the American West and South;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) when a Missouri senator used it in 1914, the editors of the New York ''Sun'' were baffled.^(Etymonline) It is now general for a noisy commotion or heated controversy.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1872 – ''roocus'', in Missouri.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1890 – ''rucus''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1914 – used in the US Senate.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A noisy disturbance or commotion; a [[fracas]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A heated controversy or row.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ruction]]

+ * [[rumpus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}