ruf|fle

ruf|fle
ruf|fle1 «RUHF uhl», verb, -fled, -fling, noun.
–v.t.
1. a) to make rgh or uneven; destroy the smoothness of; wrinkle; rumple: »

A breeze ruffled the lake. He ruffled up his gray moustache with thumb and forefinger (Booth Tarkington).

SYNONYM(S): roughen. b) to cause to rise in anger or fear: »

The hen ruffled her feathers at the sight of the dog.

2. a) to gather into a ruffle. b) to trim with ruffles.
3. to disturb; annoy: »

Nothing can ruffle her calm temper. He was not ruffled by the immense disappointment (Arnold Bennett).

SYNONYM(S): disquiet, discompose.
4. to shuffle (playing cards).
5. to turn over (the pages of a book) rapidly; riffle.
–v.i.
to become ruffled: »

The flag ruffled in the breeze. “Of course you consider it would have been so,” sighed the lady, ruffling (George Meredith).

–n.
1. roughness or unevenness in some surface; wrinkling.
2. a) a strip of cloth, ribbon, or lace gathered along one edge and used for trimming. Women's dresses sometimes have ruffles; some men's shirts for evening wear have ruffles. b) something resembling this, such as the ruff on a bird.
3. disturbance; annoyance: »

the ordinary rubs and ruffles which disturb even the most uniform life (Scott).

[Middle English ruffelen. Compare Low German ruffelen to rumple, Old Icelandic hrufla to stretch.]
ruf|fle2 «RUHF uhl», noun, verb, -fled, -fling.
–n.
a low steady beating of a drum, softer than a roll.
–v.t.
to beat (a drum) in this way.
[perhaps imitative]
ruf|fle3 «RUHF uhl», verb, -fled, -fling, noun.
–v.i.
1. to be violent or rough, as wind or waves.
2. to make a display; swagger: »

Here he was, a provincial man of business, ruffling it with the best of them! (Arnold Bennett).

3. Archaic. to struggle; contend.
–n.
Archaic. a struggle; fight; brawl: »

the ruffle betwixt the Scottish Archers and the provost-marshal's guard (Scott).

[Middle English ruffelyn; origin uncertain]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • fle — baf·fle·ment; buf·fle·horn; caf·fle; cof·fle; cur·fuf·fle; fle·eth; fuf·fle; gof·fle; jif·fle; ker·fuf·fle; maf·fle; mof·fle; ni·fle; raf·fle·sia; raf·fle·si·a·ce·ae; rif·fle·man; ri·fle·man; ri·fle·ry; ri·fle·scope; scraf·fle; scruf·fle;… …   English syllables

  • ruf — mum·ruf·fin; ruf·fi·an·ish; ruf·fi·an·ism; ruf·fi·an·ize; ruf·fi·an·ly; ruf·fi·a·no; ruf·fled; ruf·fler; ruf·fly; ruf·ter; ruf·fi·an; ruf·fle; …   English syllables

  • ruffle — ruf·fle …   English syllables

  • ruffle — ruf|fle1 [ rʌfl ] verb transitive 1. ) to move something so that it is no longer smooth or even: Don t ruffle the tablecloth I just ironed it. a ) to touch someone s hair in a friendly way: She kissed him on the forehead and ruffled his hair. b ) …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • ruffle — I ruf•fle [[t]ˈrʌf əl[/t]] v. fled, fling, n. 1) to destroy the smoothness or evenness of 2) to erect (the feathers), as a bird in anger 3) to disturb, vex, or irritate 4) to turn (pages) rapidly 5) to pass (cards) through the fingers rapidly in… …   From formal English to slang

  • ruff — Ruffle Ruf fle, n. [See {Ruffle}, v. t. & i.] 1. That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and used as a trimming; a frill. [1913 Webster] 2. A state of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ruffle — Ruf fle, n. [See {Ruffle}, v. t. & i.] 1. That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and used as a trimming; a frill. [1913 Webster] 2. A state of being… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ruffle — Ruf fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ruffled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ruffling}.] [From {Ruff} a plaited collar, a drum beat, a tumult: cf. OD. ruyffelen to wrinkle.] 1. To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ruffle — Ruf fle, v. i. [Perhaps of different origin from ruffle to wrinkle; cf. OD. roffeln, roffen, to pander, LG. raffein, Dan. ruffer a pimp. Cf. {Rufflan}.] 1. To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent. [R.] [1913 Webster] The night comes on, and the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ruffle of a boot — Ruffle Ruf fle, n. [See {Ruffle}, v. t. & i.] 1. That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and used as a trimming; a frill. [1913 Webster] 2. A state of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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