Ruffle Definition
rŭfəl
ruffled, ruffles, ruffling
noun
ruffles
A strip of cloth, lace, etc., gathered in pleats and puckers and used for trimming.
Webster's New World
Something like this, as a bird's ruff.
Webster's New World
A disturbance.
Webster's New World
A beating or rustling sound.
The ruffle of drums in the distance; the ruffle of a skirt on the floor.
American Heritage
A low, continuous beating of a drum, not so loud as a roll.
Webster's New World
verb
ruffled, ruffles, ruffling
To beat a ruffle on (a drum).
American Heritage
To behave arrogantly or roughly; swagger.
American Heritage
To take away the smoothness of; wrinkle; ripple.
Wind ruffling the water.
Webster's New World
To gather into ruffles.
Webster's New World
To put ruffles on as trimming.
Webster's New World
idiom
ruffle feathers
- to disturb, irritate, or annoy (someone)
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Ruffle
- ruffle feathers
Origin of Ruffle
From Middle English ruffelen to roughen
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Middle English ruffelen to quarrel
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Probably from frequentative of ruff
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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