ruffle

¹

[ruhf-uhl]

verb (used with object)

ruffled, ruffling 

1. to destroy the smoothness or evenness of.

   The wind ruffled the sand.

   Synonyms: rumple, wrinkle, disorder, disarrange
   Antonyms: order, arrange, smooth

2. to erect (the feathers), as a bird in anger.

3. to disturb, vex, or irritate.

   to be ruffled by a perceived slight.

   Synonyms: agitate, annoy, upset
   Antonyms: compose, soothe

4. to turn (the pages of a book) rapidly.

5. to pass (cards) through the fingers rapidly in shuffling.

6. to draw up (cloth, lace, etc.) into a ruffle by gathering along one edge.

verb (used without object)

ruffled, ruffling 

1. to be or become ruffled; undulate; flutter.

   Flags ruffle in the wind.

2. to be or become vexed or irritated.

3. to put on airs; swagger.

noun

1. a break in the smoothness or evenness of some surface; undulation.

   Synonyms: vexation, trial, headache, aggravation

2. a strip of cloth, lace, etc., drawn up by gathering along one edge and used as a trimming on a dress, blouse, etc.

   Synonyms: ruff, frill

3. some object resembling this, as the ruff of a bird.

4. disturbance or vexation; annoyance; irritation.

   It is impossible to live without some daily ruffles to our composure.

   Antonyms: joy, delight

5. a disturbed state of mind; perturbation.

ruffle

²

[ruhf-uhl]

noun

1. a low, continuous beating of a drum.

verb (used with object)

ruffled, ruffling 

1. to beat (a drum) in this manner.

ruffle

¹

/ ˈrʌfəl /

verb

1. to make, be, or become irregular or rumpled

   to ruffle a child's hair

   a breeze ruffling the water

2. to annoy, irritate, or be annoyed or irritated

3. (tr) to make into a ruffle; pleat

4. (of a bird) to erect (its feathers) in anger, display, etc

5. (tr) to flick (cards, pages, etc) rapidly with the fingers

noun

1. an irregular or disturbed surface

2. a strip of pleated material used for decoration or as a trim

3. zoology another name for ruff 1

4. annoyance or irritation

ruffle

²

/ ˈrʌfəl /

noun

1. a low continuous drumbeat

verb

1. (tr) to beat (a drum) with a low repetitive beat

ruffle

³

/ ˈrʌfəl /

verb

1. archaic,  (intr) to behave riotously or arrogantly; swagger

Other Word Forms

• ruffly adjective
• ruffler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruffle¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb ruffelen, ruflen; origin uncertain; perhaps cognate with Low German ruffelen “to crumple, rumple,” Old Norse hruffa “to scratch”

Origin of ruffle²

First recorded in 1690–1700; archaic ruff in same sense (perhaps imitative) + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruffle¹

C13: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German ruffelen to crumple, Old Norse hrufla to scratch

Origin of ruffle²

C18: from earlier ruff , of imitative origin

Origin of ruffle³

C15: of obscure origin

Example Sentences

“I was scared to hurt anybody for so long and ruffle any feathers or change anything up, even though I was feeling really stagnant,” Price admits.

From Los Angeles Times

Garg's admirers saw him as someone who never thought twice before ruffling feathers.

From BBC

Big Bear’s beloved eagle couple Jackie and Shadow could be getting dozens of new neighbors, ruffling the feathers of advocates who say it will disturb the endangered raptors.

From Los Angeles Times

So feathers were seriously ruffled just weeks into his tenure when it emerged he had hired a noted vaccine critic, David Geier, to look again at the CDC data on that scientifically disproven link.

From BBC

“The only time Stephen Colbert ruffles feathers is in a pillow fight.”

From Salon

Related Words

• annoy 
• disturb 
• irk 
• rattle