Meaning

noun a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

verb make a dry crackling sound

verb take illegally

originFrom Middle English rustelen, russelen, of uncertain origin, but probably from Old English hrūxlian, hristlan, hrystlan, hristlian (“to make a noise”). Compare also Scots reesle (“to crackle; rattle; rustle”), West Frisian risselje, Dutch ritselen (“to rustle”), Afrikaans ritsel (“to rustle”), German rascheln (“to rustle”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0