Rŭff1, n.
n. [O. Eng. ruff, equivalent to rough, q. v., Icel. rûfinn, hairy, uncombed, Pr. ruf, rude, rough, Sp. rufo, frizzed, crisp, curled, Ger. raufen, to pluck, fight, rupfen, to pluck, pull.]
Sense 1. That which is made rough; especially, a muslin or linen collar plaited, crimped, or fluted, worn formerly by both sexes, but now only by females. “Here to-morrow with his best ruff on.” Shak.
His gravity is much lessened since the late proclamation came out against ruffs; . . . they were come to that height of excess herein, that twenty shillings were used to be paid for starching of a ruff. Howell.
Sense 2. Something formed in plaits or flutings, like the collar of this name.
I reared this flower; Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I spread. Pope.
Sense 3. An exhibition of pride or haughtiness.
How many princes . . . in the ruff of their glory have been taken down from the head of a conquering army to the wheel of the victor’s chariot! L’Estrange.
Sense 4. Wanton or tumultuous procedure or conduct. “To ruffle it out in a riotous ruff.” Latimer.
Sense 5. A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; a ruffle.
Sense 6. (Ornith.) (a.) A bird of Europe and Asia (Machetes, or Philomachus, pugnax), allied to the woodcock and sandpiper. The male has a tuft of feathers around the neck during the breeding season, whence the name. The female is called reeve. (b.) A certain species of pigeon.
Sense 7. (Mach.) An annular ridge formed on a shaft, or other piece, to prevent it from moving endwise.
☞ Ruffs are also sometimes loose rings, fixed in their places by set-screws, and are then called loose ruffs.
- [Pg. rufa, rifa, Sp. rifan.] (Card-playing.) (a.) A game formerly in vogue, similar to whist, and the predecessor of it. (b.) The act of trumping, instead of following suit. Nares. Smart.
- [Fr. ruffe.] (Ichth.) A European river-fish, of the perch family, sometimes called the smaller river perch.
