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ruffle

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The definition of a ruffle is a pleating or gathering of fabric, or an annoyance.

(noun)

An example of a ruffle is a gathering of fabric around the edge of a sleeve.
An example of a ruffle is a constant poking pain.

Ruffle is defined as to wrinkle, or to annoy or bother.

(verb)

An example of ruffle is to gather fabric.
An example of ruffle is to keep calling someone names.

See ruffle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb ruffled, ruffling

to take away the smoothness of; wrinkle; ripple: wind ruffling the water
to gather into ruffles
to put ruffles on as trimming
to make (feathers, etc.) stand up in or as in a ruff, as a bird when frightened
to disturb, irritate, or annoy
to turn over (the pages of a book, etc.) rapidly

Origin: ME ruffelen < ON or MLowG, as in LowG, ON hrufla, to scratch

intransitive verb

to become uneven, wrinkled, etc.
to become disturbed, irritated, etc.

noun

a strip of cloth, lace, etc., gathered in pleats and puckers and used for trimming
something like this, as a bird's ruff
a disturbance; irritation
a break in surface smoothness; ripple

Related Forms:

ruffly adjective rufflier, ruffliest

noun

a low, continuous beating of a drum, not so loud as a roll

Origin: also earlier ruff, prob. echoic

intransitive verb, transitive verb ruffled, ruffling

to beat (a drum, etc.) with a ruffle

See ruffle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A strip of frilled or closely pleated fabric used for trimming or decoration.
A ruff on a bird.
a. A ruckus or fray.
b. Annoyance; vexation.
An irregularity or a slight disturbance of a surface.

verb ruf·fled, ruf·fling, ruf·fles

verb, transitive

To disturb the smoothness or regularity of; ripple.
To pleat or gather (fabric) into a ruffle.
To erect (the feathers). Used of birds.
To discompose; fluster: a book that is bound to ruffle some people.
To flip through (the pages of a book).
To shuffle (cards).

verb, intransitive

To become irregular or rough.
To flutter.
To become flustered.

Origin:

Origin: From Middle English ruffelen, to roughen

noun

A low continuous beating of a drum that is not as loud as a roll. Also called ruff⁴.

transitive verb ruf·fled, ruf·fling, ruf·fles

To beat a ruffle on (a drum).

Origin:

Origin: Probably from frequentative of ruff⁴

intransitive verb ruf·fled, ruf·fling, ruf·fles

To behave arrogantly or roughly; swagger.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English ruffelen, to quarrel

Related Forms:

rufˈfler noun

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