ruff

[ ruhf ]

/ rʌf /

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noun

a neckpiece or collar of lace, lawn, or the like, gathered or drawn into deep, full, regular folds, worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.

something resembling such a piece in form or position.

a collar, or set of lengthened or specially marked hairs or feathers, on the neck of an animal.

Ornithology. a species of European and Asian sandpiper, Philomachus pugnax, the male of which has a large erectile ruff of feathers during the breeding season.Compare reeve³.

Alaska and Northern Canada. a fringe of fur around the edge of a parka hood or along the edges of a jacket.

verb (used with object)

tease (def. 5).

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!

Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ruff

First recorded in 1515–25; perhaps back formation from ruffle¹

OTHER WORDS FROM ruff

rufflike, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ruff

rough, ruff

Words nearby ruff

rue family, rueful, ruefully, Rufen, rufescent, ruff, ruffe, ruffed, ruffed grouse, ruffian, ruffianism

Definition for ruff (2 of 3)

ruff²

[ ruhf ]

/ rʌf /

Cards.

noun

an act or instance of trumping when one cannot follow suit.

an old game of cards, resembling whist.

verb (used with or without object)

to trump when unable to follow suit.

Origin of ruff

First recorded in 1580–90; probably from French ro(u)ffle, from Old French romfle, ronfle, from Italian ronfa a card game, possibly a shortening of trionfo triumph, or from German Trumpf trump¹

Definition for ruff (3 of 3)

ruff³

[ ruhf ]

/ rʌf /

noun

a small European freshwater fish, Acerina cernua, of the perch family.

Origin of ruff

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English roffe, ruffe, rowe; further origin uncertain; perhaps special use of rough

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for ruff

And then Joan, dressed in a black sparkly dressing gown with a feather ruff—literally—rang the dinner gong.
My Thanksgiving With Joan Rivers|Paula Froelich|November 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Decked in a $850 black dress with a white ruff and cuffs, however, Brooks dictated a more modest tone.
Rebekah Brooks Answers Leveson Inquiry, But Could Regret It Later|Peter Jukes|May 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The 40-year-old Voit studied at the Dusseldorf Academy in Germany with Thomas Ruff, a disciple of Bernd and Hilla Becher.
This Is Not a Tree|Philip Gefter|January 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST
His ruff is an ornament and a defence; he loses both it and his red grape with the passing of his fighting and loving season.
The Natural Philosophy of Love|Remy de Gourmont

Mrs Turner, at her execution, was arrayed in a ruff stiffened with the material for the invention of which she was so famous.
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 442|Various
The portrait was that of a man in middle life, handsomely dressed in black velvet, with hat and ruff.
Three Margarets|Laura E. Richards
Punch describes it as the same back and front, with a kind of ruff below the waist which sticks out stiffly all round.
Mr. Punch's History of Modern England Vol. IV of IV.|Charles L. Graves
Bobo's red eyes expanded and the ruff on the back of his neck began to rise.
Six Little Bunkers at Mammy June's|Laura Lee Hope

British Dictionary definitions for ruff (1 of 3)

ruff¹

/ (rʌf) /

noun

a circular pleated, gathered, or fluted collar of lawn, muslin, etc, often starched or wired, worn by both men and women in the 16th and 17th centuries

zoology a natural growth of long or coloured hair or feathers around the necks of certain animals or birds

an Old World shore bird, Philomachus pugnax, the male of which has a large erectile ruff of feathers in the breeding season: family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, etc), order Charadriiformes
the male of this birdCompare reeve 3

Derived forms of ruff

rufflike, adjective

Word Origin for ruff

C16: back formation from ruffle 1

British Dictionary definitions for ruff (2 of 3)

ruff²

/ (rʌf) /

noun cards

another word for trump 1

an old card game similar to whist

verb

cards another word for trump 1 (def. 4)

Word Origin for ruff

C16: from Old French roffle; perhaps changed from Italian trionfa trump 1

British Dictionary definitions for ruff (3 of 3)

ruff³

/ (rʌf) /

noun

another name for roughie 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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