Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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.
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.
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.
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.]
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.
Source : WordNet®
ruffle
n 1: a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim
[syn: {frill}, {flounce}, {furbelow}]
2: a high tight collar [syn: {choker}, {ruff}, {neck ruff}]
3: a noisy fight [syn: {affray}, {disturbance}, {fray}]
ruffle
v 1: stir up (water) so as to form ripples [syn: {ripple}, {riffle},
{cockle}, {undulate}]
2: trouble or vex; "ruffle somebody's composure"
3: to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to
impress others; "He struts around like a rooster in a hen
house" [syn: {swagger}, {prance}, {strut}, {sashay}, {cock}]
4: discompose; "This play is going to ruffle some people"; "She
has a way of ruffling feathers among her colleagues"
5: twitch or flutter; "the paper flicked" [syn: {flick}, {riffle}]
6: mix so as to make a random order or arrangement; "shuffle
the cards" [syn: {shuffle}, {mix}]
7: erect or fluff up; "the bird ruffled its feathers" [syn: {fluff}]
8: disturb the smoothness of; "ruffle the surface of the water"
[syn: {ruffle up}, {rumple}, {mess up}]
9: pleat or gather into a ruffle; "ruffle the curtain fabric"
[syn: {pleat}]