Late Middle English (in an earlier sense). Origin uncertain. Although the word is evidently related to, and largely synonymous with, earlier rugged, the precise nature of the relationship is unclear. Probably ultimately from early Scandinavian; compare Old Swedish ruggotter rough, uneven (Swedish † ruggot, (now regional) rugget, (with suffix substitution) ruggig rough, uneven, shaggy, tattered, ramshackle, slovenly, unpleasant, disagreeable, (of weather) bleak, chilly, (of a person) unwell) from the same Scandinavian base (with suffix forming adjectives) as Swedish rugg ruffled or coarse hair, coarse cloth. In Orkney use probably via Norn.