[syn: murmurous, rustling, soughing, susurrous]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rustle \Rus"tle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rustled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Rustling.] [AS. hristlan to rustle; or cf. Sw. rusta to
stir, make a riot, or E. rush, v.]
1. To make a quick succession of small sounds, like the
rubbing or moving of silk cloth or dry leaves.
[1913 Webster]
He is coming; I hear his straw rustle. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Prouder than rustling in unpaid-for silk. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To stir about energetically; to strive to succeed; to
bustle about. [Slang, Western U.S.]
[1913 Webster]
3. To steal; -- used of livestock and esp. of cattle.
[PJC]
To rustle up To gather or find by searching; as, to rustle
up some food for supper.
[PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
rustling
adj 1: characterized by soft sounds; "a murmurous brook"; "a
soughing wind in the pines"; "a slow sad susurrous rustle
like the wind fingering the pines"- R.P.Warren [syn:
murmurous, rustling, soughing, susurrous]
n 1: the stealing of cattle
2: a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves
blowing in the wind [syn: rustle, rustling, whisper,
whispering]