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ruff¹ Definition

ruff (ruf)

noun

  1. a high, frilled or pleated collar of starched muslin, lace, etc., worn by men and women in the 16th and 17th cent.
  2. a band of distinctively colored or protruding feathers or fur about the neck of an animal or bird
  3. a Eurasian sandpiper (Philomachus pugnax), the male of which grows a large ruff during the breeding season: the female is called a reeve

Etymology: contr. of ruffle,

ruff¹ Related Forms

ruffed (ruft) adjective

ruff² Definition

ruff (ruf)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

trump

Etymology: OFr roffle, earlier ronfle, altered < ? triomphe: see trump

noun

Etymology: < the v.

the act of trumping

ruff³ Definition

ruff (ruf)

noun

  1. a small, spotted, European freshwater perch (Acerina cernua)
  2. any of various Atlantic butterfishes (genus Centrolophus)

Etymology: ME ruffe < ? rugh, rough

ruff Usage Examples

Object

  • lemur: Red ruffed lemurs live in small groups of between 5 - 16 individuals.
  • spade: However, after winning A, East can cash A and force dummy to ruff the third spade.
  • diamond: However, in order to do this, you will need to begin by ruffing a diamond at trick two.
  • heart: East had to play low, or Andrew could afford to ruff the heart.
  • club: Hang on, maybe I could have done better; there was no hurry to ruff the club.
  • round: She played five rounds of diamonds instead, ruffing the fifth round in dummy.

Converse of object

  • wear: I cannot remember, if you wore a ruff.
  • have: General characteristics Red ruffed lemurs have a distinctive ruff under their chin and around their cheeks.
  • take: Consider taking a ruff at trick two when playing in a long trump suit before drawing trumps.
  • stiffen: The roots of this plant were collected in Elizabethan times for their high starch content, which was used to stiffen fashionable linen ruffs.

Preposition: in

  • dummy: If he returns a spade you ruff in dummy, draw trumps and play a club to the ten and the contract is secure.
  • hand: Answer: You should try to score a heart ruff in hand.

Adjective modifier

  • white: They get their name from the thick white ruff or mane around their necks.
  • large: Feathering on feet and legs, pants on hind legs and large ruff on the neck desired and preferred.
  • Elizabethan: His lean face was dark by contrast, and ended in a curt black beard that looked Spanish and suggested an Elizabethan ruff.

Noun used with modifier

  • spade: Obviously you need to find partner's entry to get your spade ruff.
  • diamond: He won with the J, cashed A, crossed to Q and scored a diamond ruff.
  • heart: Answer: You should try to score a heart ruff in hand.
  • club: It could easily be right to prevent a second club ruff.
  • neck: In which she is dressed in a stylish Jacobean trilby hat and a great neck ruff, which was the fashion of that time.

Browse dictionary entries near ruff

  1. rufescent
  2. Ruether, Rosemary Radford
  3. rueful
  4. rue anemone
  5. rue
  6. Rudolph
  7. Rudolf I
  8. Rudolf
  9. Rudofsky, Bernard
  10. rudiments
  1. ruffed grouse
  2. ruffian
  3. ruffle
  4. rufiyaa
  5. rufous
  6. Rufus
  7. rug
  8. ruga
  9. Rugby
  10. rugby shirt