Language:
Free Online Dictionary|3Dict

ruffle

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}]
Sort by alphabet : A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z