ruction dial. or colloq.
(ˈrʌkʃən)
Also 9 'ruction.
[Of obscure origin: in quot. 1831 associated with insurrection.]
A disturbance, riot, or tumult; a disorderly dispute or quarrel; a row.
| 1825 Jamieson Suppl., Ruction, a quarrel; to raise a ruction, to be the cause of a quarrel. 1831 S. Lover Leg. Irel. 148 It was in the time of the 'ruction [1798]. 1852 Election Song in N.W. Linc. Gloss. s.v., Four hundred dirty vagabonds All ready for a ruction. 1878 A. Hume Remarks Irish Dial. 111 When a..ruction has been ‘riz’. 1886 Sat. Rev. 22 May 695/1 The ruction has been hardly in the fearless old Hibernian manner. 1890 Spectator 27 Dec. 933/1 Whisky which produces motiveless ructions at fairs and social gatherings. 1900 F. P. Dunne Mr. Dooley's Philos. 24 That's life in America. 'Tis a gloryous big fight, a rough an' tumble fight, a Donnybrook fair three thousan' miles wide an' a ruction in ivry block. 1905 [see pavvy]. 1913 [see rippit]. 1921 E. O'Neill Diff'rent 1, in Emperor Jones 218 That brown gal took an awful shine to Caleb and when she saw the ship was gittin' ready to sail she raised ructions,..howlin' and screamin' and beatin' her chest with her fists. 1943 Sun (Baltimore) 17 Nov. 14/1 As a result of this little ruction, Baltimore is freed..from the grip of a political coalition which boded no good for the city. 1964 D. Varaday Gara-Yaka xii. 103 The ructions of a clash between rival tribes. |