ruff¹ Definition
ruff (ruf)
noun
- a high, frilled or pleated collar of starched muslin, lace, etc., worn by men and women in the 16th and 17th cent.
- a band of distinctively colored or protruding feathers or fur about the neck of an animal or bird
- 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
Etymology: OFr roffle, earlier ronfle, altered < ? triomphe: see trump
noun
Etymology: < the v.
the act of trumpingruff³ Definition
ruff (ruf)
noun
- a small, spotted, European freshwater perch (Acerina cernua)
- 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
- ‹ rufescent
- ‹ Ruether, Rosemary Radford
- ‹ rueful
- ‹ rue anemone
- ‹ rue
- ‹ Rudolph
- ‹ Rudolf I
- ‹ Rudolf
- ‹ Rudofsky, Bernard
- ‹ rudiments
- ruffed grouse ›
- ruffian ›
- ruffle ›
- rufiyaa ›
- rufous ›
- Rufus ›
- rug ›
- ruga ›
- Rugby ›
- rugby shirt ›

