Talk:redd

Redd up?
What's the difference between the first and second words (Etymology 1, Etymology 2), in English? Other than the fact that the second word is used in Pittsburgh, that is. embryomystic 21:59, 29 January 2010 (UTC)

From the MED: redden (v.) Also red(d)e; p. red(de, (early) readde; ppl. red(de, ired, (early comp.) readre. [OE hreddan, p. hredde.]
 * 1) To save (sb. from enemies, Satan, death, etc.), deliver, rescue;
 * 2)  to rid (sb. of an encumbrance), free (sb. from pain); ppl. redde, freed from guilt.

For the PA usage: from Old Norse rydhja Regional Note: The terms redd and redd up came to the American Midlands from the many Scottish immigrants who settled there. Meaning "to clear an area or to make it tidy," redd is still used in Scotland and Northern Ireland; in the United States it is especially common in Pennsylvania as the phrasal verb redd up. The term, which goes back to Old Norse rydhja, can be traced from the 15th century to the present, particularly in dialects of Scotland and the North of England. --AnWulf ... Ferþu Hal! 03:08, 21 November 2011 (UTC)