ruggine

rust

noun ROOD-jee-neh Rare

Origin: From Latin rubigo/rubiginis (rust, blight), from ruber (red).

Usage Note

Ruggine is feminine and usually uncountable as a substance: la ruggine sul cancello (the rust on the gate). Figuratively it can mean lingering grudge or resentment: c'è ancora della ruggine tra loro (there is still bad blood between them). The adjective 'rusty' is arrugginito.

Examples

"Il cancello è coperto di ruggine."

Natural Translation

The gate is covered in rust.

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