ruffle
verbEtymology From Middle English ruffelen, perhaps from Old Norse hrufla (“to graze, scratch”) or Middle Low German ruffelen (“to wrinkle, curl”). Further origin unknown. Related to Middle Dutch ruyffelen, German Low German ruffeln. See English ruff.
9 senses
- 1To make a ruffle in; to curl or flute, as an edge of fabric.
- 2To disturb; especially, to cause to flutter.
- 3To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
- 4To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.
- 5To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put…
- 6To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers…
- 7To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
- 8To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
- 9To throw together in a disorderly manner.
1
To make a ruffle in; to curl or flute, as an edge of fabric.
- Ruffle the end of the cuff.
2
To disturb; especially, to cause to flutter.
- The wind ruffled the papers.
- Her sudden volley of insults ruffled his composure.
4 more examples
- She […]smoothed the ruffled seas.1697, Virgil, “Palamon and Arcite”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
- the fantastic revelries […] that so often ruffled the placid bosom of the Nile1832, [Isaac Taylor], Saturday Evening. […], London: Holdsworth and Ball, →OCLC:
- But, ever after, the small violence done / Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart, / As the sharp wind that ruffles all day long / A little bitter pool about a stone / On the bare coast.1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Guinevere”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, pages 227–228:
- These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind.1860, Sir William Hamilton, Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet:
3
To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
- The night comes on, and the bleak winds / Do sorely ruffle.c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
4
To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.
- On his right shoulder his thick mane ', / Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind.1697, Virgil, “The Third Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
5
To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
- They would ruffle with jurors.1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, →OCLC:
- gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery1822, [Walter Scott], Peveril of the Peak. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC:
1 more example
- He was engaged in finding the steward, and in aiding him to cloak his mistress; then with a ruffling air, a new acquirement, which he had picked up since he came to Paris, he made a way for her through the crowd.1901, Stanley J. Weyman, chapter I, in Count Hannibal:
6
To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
7
To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
- [T]he barge with oar and sail / Moved from the brink, like some full-breasted swan / That, fluting a wild carol ere her death, / Ruffles her pure cold plume, and takes the flood / With swarthy webs.1842, Alfred Tennyson, “Morte d’Arthur”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 16:
8
Government, Military, Politics, War To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
9
To throw together in a disorderly manner.
- Within a thicket I reposed; when round / I ruffled up fall'n leaves in heap; and found, / Let fall from heaven, a sleep interminate.1614–1615, Homer, “The Seventh Book of Homer’s Odysseys”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume I, London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, →OCLC, page 165, lines 395–397:
- Derived terms
- ruffleable, ruffle a few feathers, ruffle any feathers, ruffle feathers, rufflement, ruffler, ruffle some feathers, ruffle someone's feathers, ruffle up, ruffly, toruffle, unrufflable, unruffle, unruffled