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Definition ruff
Etymology 1
Clipping of ruffle, or possibly from rough.
Noun
ruff (plural ruffs)
- A circular frill or ruffle on a garment, especially a starched, fluted frill at the neck in Elizabethan and Jacobean England (1560s–1620s).
- Anything formed with plaits or flutings like a frill.
- Senses relating to animals.
- Philomachus pugnax (syn. Calidris pugnax), a gregarious, medium-sized wading bird of Eurasia; specifically, a male of the species which develops a distinctive ruff of feathers and ear tufts during mating season (the female is called a reeve).
- (ornithology) A set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers on or around the neck of a bird.
- (zoology) A collar of lengthened or distinctively coloured fur on or around the neck of an animal.
- (engineering) A collar on a shaft or other piece to prevent endwise motion.
- (obsolete) An exhibition of haughtiness or pride.
- (obsolete) Tumultuous or wanton conduct or procedure.
Verb
ruff (third-person singular simple present ruffs, present participle ruffing, simple past and past participle ruffed)
- (transitive) To shape (fabric, etc.) into a ruff; to adorn (a garment, etc.) with a ruff.
- (transitive, falconry) Of a falcon, hawk, etc.: to hit (the prey) without fixing or grabbing hold of it.
- (rare, transitive) To ruffle; to disorder.
- (obsolete, transitive) Of a bird: to ruffle its feathers.
- (obsolete, transitive) To boast, to brag.
- (obsolete, intransitive) To speak in a loud and domineering manner; to bluster, to swagger.
Etymology 2
Possibly from rough.
Noun
ruff (plural ruffs)
- Alternative spelling of ruffe: a small freshwater fish of the genus Gymnocephalus; specifically the Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua or Gymnocephalus cernuus) which has spiny fins; the pope.
- Arripis georgianus, a fish found in cool waters off the southern coast of Australia; the Australian herring or tommy ruff.
- (obsolete) A bottom-dwelling carnivorous fish of the family Sparidae found in temperate and tropical waters; a porgy or sea bream.
Etymology 3
From Old French roffle, rouffle (earlier romfle, ronfle), or from Italian ronfa (“card game similar to whist”); these words are possibly from Old French triomphe (“a triumph, victory”), Italian trionfo (“triumph; trump card”), from Latin triumphus (“hymn to Bacchus; celebration, triumph”), ultimately from Ancient Greek ????????? (thríambos, “hymn to Dionysius, thriambus”). The verb is derived from the noun.
Verb
ruff (third-person singular simple present ruffs, present participle ruffing, simple past and past participle ruffed) (card games)
- (transitive, intransitive) To play a trump card to a trick when unable to follow suit (that is, to play a card of the same suit as the previous or leading card). [late 16th c.]
- (transitive) Especially in the form ruff out: to defeat (a card, etc.) by ruffing, thus establishing the master card in the suit led.
Noun
ruff (plural ruffs) (card games)
- An instance of ruffing, or an opportunity to ruff, when unable to follow suit. [late 16th c.]
- (obsolete) A game similar to whist and its predecessor. [late 16th c.]
Etymology 4
Onomatopoeic.
Noun
ruff (plural ruffs)
Verb
ruff (third-person singular simple present ruffs, present participle ruffing, simple past and past participle ruffed) (music, often military)
- (transitive) To beat a ruff or ruffle, as on a drum.
- (intransitive) Of a drum, etc.: to have a ruff or ruffle beaten on it.
Interjection
ruff
Etymology 5
Adjective
ruff (comparative ruffer, superlative ruffest)
- (colloquial) Alternative spelling of rough.
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