ruff

¹ American  

[ruhf] / rʌf /

noun

1. 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.

2. something resembling such a piece in form or position.

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

4. 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.

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

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verb (used with object)

1. tease.

ruff ² American  

[ruhf] / rʌf /

noun

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

2. an old game of cards, resembling whist.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to trump when unable to follow suit.

ruff ³ American  

[ruhf] / rʌf /

noun

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

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ruff ¹ British  

/ rʌf /

noun

1. 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

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

3. 1. 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

   2. the male of this bird Compare reeve 3

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ruff ² British  

/ rʌf /

noun

1. another word for trump 1

2. an old card game similar to whist

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verb

1. cards another word for trump 1

ruff ³ British  

/ rʌf /

noun

1. another name for roughie 1

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Other Word Forms

• rufflike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of ruff¹

First recorded in 1515–25; perhaps back formation from ruffle ¹

Origin of ruff²

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 ( def. ), or from German Trumpf trump ¹

Origin of ruff³

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

Explanation

A ruff is a high, frilly collar that's worn snugly around the neck, or a similar frill of feathers or fur around an animal's neck. The Elizabethans are famous for wearing ruffs. If you wear a ruff today, you're probably acting in a Shakespeare play or a movie about sixteenth century England. Some religious figures, like bishops and choir members, sometimes also wear ruffs. They're more common in animals, from dogs to the bird that's actually called a Ruff, described as having a "large collar of ornamental feathers." Ruff is believed to be a shortened form of ruffle.

Example Sentences

Kristine Ruff, a small business owner who lives in the area, was getting her hair done at a local salon.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

The Sabres were so desperate that in 2024 they brought back Lindy Ruff, the coach who last led them to the postseason more than a decade earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

This year features a record-breaking 150 rescue dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands, split into Team Ruff and Team Fluff.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

It felt collaborative because that’s how Ruff Ryders worked anyway.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

Ruff, ruf, n. an old game at cards: the act of trumping when the player has no cards of the suit left.—v.t. to trump in this way.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Related Words

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