ruddle
/ˈrʌdəl/
noun
- A red or brownish-red mineral (often ochre) used as a pigment or for marking sheep.
- The farmer used ruddle to mark the sheep that had been counted.
- She bought a bag of ruddle to color the garden paths a warm red.
- Ancient cave paintings were made with ruddle mixed with animal fat.
verb
- To mark or color with ruddle.
- The shepherd ruddled the lambs before the fair.
- In the old days, farmers would ruddle their sheep to show ownership.
- They ruddle the fence posts to protect the wood from weather.