ruffle
Noun · VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (9)ruffles, ruffled, ruffling
- stir up (water) so as to form ripplesSynonyms: ripplerifflecockleundulateMore general flow, fluxInvolves fold, fold up
- trouble or vex“ruffle somebody's composure”More general annoy, rag
- to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others“He struts around like a rooster in a hen house”Synonyms: tittupswaggerprancestrutsashaycockMore general walk
- discompose“This play is going to ruffle some people”“She has a way of ruffling feathers among her colleagues”More general fluster
- twitch or flutter“the paper flicked”Synonyms: flickriffleMore general move, displace
- mix so as to make a random order or arrangement“shuffle the cards”Synonyms: shufflemixMore general manipulateMore specific riffle, cut, reshuffle
- erect or fluff up“the bird ruffled its feathers”Synonyms: fluff
- disturb the smoothness of“ruffle the surface of the water”Synonyms: ruffle uprumplemess up
- pleat or gather into a ruffle“ruffle the curtain fabric”Synonyms: pleat
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: 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.— Isaac Taylor
She smoothed the ruffled seas.— John Dryden
4. To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
[the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume.— Alfred Tennyson
5. Military 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 William Hamilton
But, ever after, the small violence done Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart.— Alfred Tennyson
7. To throw into disorder or confusion.
Where best He might the ruffled foe infest.—
8. To throw together in a disorderly manner. rare
I ruffled up falen leaves in heap.— George Chapman
To ruffle the feathers of, to exite the resentment of; to irritate.
Origin: 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. rare
The night comes on, and the bleak winds Do sorely ruffle.— William Shakespeare
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.— John Dryden
3. To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
They would ruffle with jurors.— Francis, Baron Verulam Bacon
Gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery.— Sir Walter Scott
Origin: See Ruffle, transitive & intransitive verb
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. Military A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; — called also ruff. Henry L. Scott
4. Zoology The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur. See Ootheca.
Ruffle of a boot, the top turned down, and scalloped or plaited. James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54