a. [ Compar. Ruder superl. Rudest. ] [ F., fr. L. rudis. ] 1. Characterized by roughness; umpolished; raw; lacking delicacy or refinement; coarse. [ 1913 Webster ]
Such gardening tools as art, yet rude, . . . had formed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Hence, specifically: (a) Unformed by taste or skill; not nicely finished; not smoothed or polished; -- said especially of material things; as, rude workmanship. “Rude was the cloth.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
Rude and unpolished stones. Bp. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]
The heaven-born child
All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
(b) Of untaught manners; unpolished; of low rank; uncivil; clownish; ignorant; raw; unskillful; -- said of persons, or of conduct, skill, and the like. “Mine ancestors were rude.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
He was but rude in the profession of arms. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]
the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]
(c) Violent; tumultuous; boisterous; inclement; harsh; severe; -- said of the weather, of storms, and the like; as, the rude winter. [ 1913 Webster ]
[ Clouds ] pushed with winds, rude in their shock. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
The rude agitation [ of water ] breaks it into foam. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]
(d) Barbarous; fierce; bloody; impetuous; -- said of war, conflict, and the like; as, the rude shock of armies. (e) Not finished or complete; inelegant; lacking chasteness or elegance; not in good taste; unsatisfactory in mode of treatment; -- said of literature, language, style, and the like. “The rude Irish books.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
Rude am I in my speech. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Unblemished by my rude translation. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
Syn. -- Impertinent; rough; uneven; shapeless; unfashioned; rugged; artless; unpolished; uncouth; inelegant; rustic; coarse; vulgar; clownish; raw; unskillful; untaught; illiterate; ignorant; uncivil; impolite; saucy; impudent; insolent; surly; currish; churlish; brutal; uncivilized; barbarous; savage; violent; fierce; tumultuous; turbulent; impetuous; boisterous; harsh; inclement; severe. See Impertiment. [ 1913 Webster ]
-- Rude"ly adv. -- Rude"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]