ruf·fle
1 (rŭf́əl)
[From Middle English ruffelen, to roughen.]
noun
- A strip of frilled or closely pleated fabric used for trimming or decoration.
- A ruff on a bird.
- A ruckus or fray.
- Annoyance; vexation.
- An irregularity or a slight disturbance of a surface.
verb: -fled, -fling, -fles.
transitive verb
- To disturb the smoothness or regularity of; ripple.
- To pleat or gather (fabric) into a ruffle.
- To erect (the feathers). Used of birds.
- To discompose; fluster: a book that is bound to ruffle some people.
- To flip through (the pages of a book).
- To shuffle (cards).
intransitive verb
- To become irregular or rough.
- To flutter.
- To become flustered.
ruf·fle
2 (rŭf́əl)
[Probably from frequentative of ruff4.]
noun
- A low continuous beating of a drum that is not as loud as a roll. Also called ruff4
transitive verb: -fled, -fling, -fles.
- To beat a ruffle on (a drum).
ruf·fle
3 (rŭf́əl)
[Middle English ruffelen, to quarrel.]
intransitive verb: -fled, -fling, -fles.
- To behave arrogantly or roughly; swagger.
derivatives
- ruf́fler
- noun
