ruddy

Universal Words adjective, adverb adjective 1 (of a person's face) looking red and healthy: ruddy cheeks * a ruddy complexion 2 (literary) red in colour: a ruddy sky 3 [onlybeforenoun] (BrE, informal) a mild swear word that some people use to show that they are annoyed: I can't get the ruddy car to start! * What the ruddy hell do you want? adverb (BrE, informal) a mild swear word used by some people to emphasize what they are saying, especially when they are annoyed: There was a ruddy great hole in the ceiling.