- ruf|fle
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–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).–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.]–n.a low steady beating of a drum, softer than a roll.–v.t.to beat (a drum) in this way.╂[perhaps imitative]–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.