russet

1 of 2

noun

rus·​set ˈrə-sət 

1

: coarse homespun usually reddish-brown cloth

2

: a reddish brown

3

: any of various apples having rough russet-colored skins

4

: a usually large elongated potato especially suited for baking

russet

2 of 2

adjective

: of the color russet

Examples of russet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Its fur was the mottled grey and russet brown of autumn leaves, the tip of its tail black, as if dipped in paint. —Literary Hub, 12 May 2026

While not exactly a dessert, Lucretia Garfield's Potato Bread (a bread recipe featuring a russet potato and flour) reminds us of this classic Depression-era recipe for Potato Candy. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 May 2026

Five pounds of new potatoes take up a different amount of space than 5 pounds of big russet baking potatoes. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026

Choose fingerling potatoes over russets or cherry tomatoes over larger beefsteak varieties. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from russet, adjective, russet, from rus, rous red, from Latin russus; akin to Latin ruber red — more at red

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for russet

• gusset

Kids Definition

russet

1 of 2 noun

rus·​set ˈrəs-ət 

1

: coarse homespun usually reddish brown cloth

2

: a reddish brown

3

: any of various usually late-ripening apples that have rough mostly russet-colored skins

russet

2 of 2 adjective

: of the color russet