Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. 2. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt. 3. To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by agitation or commotion. The fantastic revelries . . . that so often ruffled the placid bosom of the Nile. --I. Taylor. She smoothed the ruffled seas. --Dryden. 4. To erect in a ruff, as feathers. [the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume. --Tennyson. 5. (Mil.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum. 6. To discompose; to agitate; to disturb. These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind. --Sir W. Hamilton. But, ever after, the small violence done Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart. --Tennyson. 7. To throw into disorder or confusion. Where best He might the ruffled foe infest. --Hudibras. 8. To throw together in a disorderly manner. [R.] I ruffled up falen leaves in heap. --Chapman {To ruffle the feathers of}, to exite the resentment of; to irritate.
\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.] The night comes on, and the bleak winds Do sorely ruffle. --Shak. 2. To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter. On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined, Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind. --Dryden. 3. To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger. They would ruffle with jurors. --Bacon. Gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery. --Sir W. Scott.
\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. 2. A state of being ruffled or disturbed; disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind in a ruffle. 3. (Mil.) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; -- called also {ruff}. --H. L. Scott. 4. (Zo["o]l.) The connected series of large egg capsules, or o["o]thec[ae], of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus {Fulgur}. See {O["o]theca}. {Ruffle of a boot}, the top turned down, and scalloped or plaited. --Halliwell.