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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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. Zool. The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur. See Ootheca.
Ruffle of a boot, the top turned down, and scalloped or plaited.
Halliwell.
© Webster 1913. | 
