runish

English

Alternative forms

• Runish

Etymology 1

From Middle English runish, runisch, from Old English *rūnisc, *rȳnisc, rēnisc (“mysterious, mystic”), equivalent to rune +‎ -ish.

Adjective

runish (comparative more runish, superlative most runish)

1. Of or relating to runes, runic inscription, or runic language; runic.
   • 1884, George Stephens, Handbook of the old-northern runic monument of Scandinavia and England:

     Hundreds of these Golden Ornaments — Rank-decorations, Family Medals, Gift- pieces, Amulets, or whatever else they may have been — have no letters at all, either runish or otherwise.

   • 2005, Tango Wayne, Scandinal:

     Susan's impatient monosyllable startled Jori, slung in the halter on her chest, but he promptly went back to sleep after blowing a couple of bubbles. 'It's in Runish, the old language.

2. Mysterious; strange.
   • 2003, Ann R. Meyer, Medieval Allegory and the Building of the New Jerusalem:

     Baltazar is stunned with fear as he watches the floating hand carve mysterious "runisch sauez" (runish writings) (1544-45) in the wall.

   • 2011, Marly Youmans, The Throne of Psyche:

     It's such cross-purpose my heart craves, These guests on old Twelfth Night, Their runish, unreadable moil Of prints, the barrowed creche Awaiting thaw.

Etymology 2

From Middle English runisch, a variant (by confusion) of renisch. Also rennish.

Adjective

runish (comparative more runish, superlative most runish)

1. Rough, violent.

Anagrams

• Rushin, inrush, rush in