rufus

Meaning

(adjective, declension-1, declension-2) red (in the most general sense, of all shades, and including orange)
(adjective, declension-1, declension-2) red-haired

red

rubidus

vermiculus

russeus

rubens

κόκκινος

سوور

roge

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈruː.fʊs]

From Proto-Italic *rouðos. The medial -f- indicates a borrowing from a Sabellic language such as Oscan 𐌓𐌖𐌚𐌓𐌉𐌉𐌔 (rufriis), Umbrian 𐌓𐌖𐌚𐌓𐌖 (rufru), or from a sister variety such as Faliscan, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- (“red”). It might have penetrated urban Latin by virtue of the fact that it was used as an attribute for oxen sold in the markets in Rome. The word rōbus, which ended up being limited to oxen instead, represents the regular outcome of the same etymon.