ruffled
AmericanEtymology
Origin of ruffled
Explanation
Ruffled things are frilly, or edged with fancy ruffles. Your little sister might love her ruffled dress so much that she wants to wear it every day. A bird's ruffled feathers provide it some protection as well as looking attractive to potential mates. You can also describe things that are mussed or rumpled, by a hand or the wind, for example, as ruffled. Your dog's ruffled fur might be caused by the breeze — or she might have her hackles up because she sees her mortal enemy, the mail carrier. The root of ruffled is probably the Low German ruffelen, "to wrinkle or curl."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Aggressive measures to slow the spread of the infection have ruffled feathers, but they appear to be working.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
Although she was dressed in a ruffled, all-white dress, they thankfully did not get married on the spot.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
Before all that, though, Starr was eager to talk about “Long Long Road,” whose cover photo shows pop music’s most famous drummer in a ruffled purple shirt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026
It was a night when Newcastle ruffled one or two feathers.
From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2026
A strong wind ruffled his hair, and I watched him stuff his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie.
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
