1. Of or relating to Russia or its people, language, or culture.
2. Of or relating to the former Soviet Union.

1. 1. A native or inhabitant of Russia.
   2. A person of Russian descent.
   3. A native or inhabitant of the former Soviet Union.
2. The East Slavic language of the Russians, used as the official language of Russia and widely as a second language within the Commonwealth of Independent States.

[Medieval Latin Russiānus, from Old Russian Rusĭ, Vikings, Rus, from Old Norse *rōdhs(menn) or ródhs(karlar), seafarers, from rōdhr, rowing.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.