Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RUD'DY, a. [Sax. rude, rudu, reod; D. rood; G. roth; W. rhuz; Gr. ερυθρος; Sans. rudhira, blood. This seems to be a dialectical orthography of red, – which see.]

1. Of a red color; of a lively flesh color, or the color of the human skin in high health. Thus we say, ruddy cheeks, ruddy lips, a ruddy face or skin, a ruddy youth; and in poetic language, ruddy fruit. But the word is chiefly applied to the human skin. Dryden. Otway.
2. Of a bright yellow color; as, ruddy gold. [Unusual.] Dryden.