rus·set / ˈrəsət/ • adj. 1. reddish brown in color: gardens of russet and gold chrysanthemums. 2. archaic rustic; homely. • n. 1. a reddish-brown color: the woods in autumn are a riot of russet and gold. 2. a dessert apple of a variety with a slightly rough greenish-brown skin. 3. hist. a coarse homespun reddish-brown or gray cloth used for simple clothing. • v. (-set·ed , -set·ing ) make or become russet in color. ∎  (of smooth-skinned fruit) develop a rough reddish-brown or yellowish-brown skin, or patches of such: [tr.] a week of humid weather has russeted the pears | [intr.] this variety of apple tends not to russet. DERIVATIVES: rus·set·y adj.

russet coarse woollen cloth of reddish-brown or other subfusc colour XIII; adj. reddish-brown XIV (hence sb. russet colour XVI; russet apple XVIII). — AN., var. of OF. ro(u)sset, dim. f. rous (mod. roux):- L. russus (rel. to RED); see -ET.

russet a coarse homespun reddish-brown or grey cloth traditionally used for simple clothing; russet clothing may be taken as a symbol of simplicity and honesty, as in a letter of 1643 written by Oliver Cromwell.