Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Ruse \Ruse\, n. [F., fr. OF. re["u]ser, rehuser, to turn aside,
   to shuffle, retreat, fr. L. recusare to refuse; pref. re-
   again + causa cause. See {Cause}, and cf. {Recusant}.]
   An artifice; trick; stratagem; wile; fraud; deceit.

   {Ruse de guerre}[F.], a stratagem of war.

Source : WordNet®

ruse
     n : a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture) [syn: {artifice}]