I. ˈrəfəl verb
( ruffled ; ruffled ; ruffling -f(ə)liŋ ; ruffles )
Etymology: Middle English ruffelen; akin to Low German ruffelen to crumple
transitive verb
1.
a. : to roughen or disturb the smoothness of : agitate the surface of
b. : to rub (a surface) rough : abrade , graze
c. : to disturb the composure of : distract , trouble , vex
said this to try to ruffle her husband — Rex Ingamells
2. obsolete : to throw into confusion or perplexity
3. chiefly dialect : to annoy with insults : attack , bully
4. : to erect (as feathers) in or like a ruff : cause to rise or bristle : stiffen
5. : to act the braggart : roister about : swagger — used with it
ruffled it with the other gunmen who infested the town — W.M.Raine
6.
a. : to flip through (as the pages of a book)
ran with it to the piano, ruffling the pages to find the place — Marcia Davenport
: shuffle (playing cards) rapidly
b. obsolete : to rumple or tousle (a woman) familiarly or rudely
c. obsolete : to seize rudely
7.
a. : to make into a ruffle : gather , pleat
b. : to finish or trim with ruffles
intransitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to strive or contest against another or on behalf of another : engage in combat — used with with or for
b. archaic : to grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent (as the wind)
2. : to become discomposed, irritated, or angered
their dispositions ruffle perceptibly — Life
3. : to flutter or stir into an uneven surface : rise or form into folds or irregularities
a flag on a tall pole ruffled in the breeze
4. : to swagger arrogantly : act the bully or braggart : show bravado : bluster
gets drunk, ruffles, and roisters — Charles Kingsley
one that ruffled in a manly pose — W.B.Yeats
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a disturbance of calm or equanimity : a state of irritation, vexation, or discomposure
recuperate after the ruffle of breakfast — Elizabeth Taylor
b. : something that causes annoyance or vexation
2.
a. : a rough brawl, fight, or dispute : commotion , skirmish
all the ruffle and rowdydow — M.G.Bishop
b. obsolete : busy ostentation : vainglorious pomp or display
3. : a roughness, unevenness, or disturbance of surface : ripple
give the water a glistening ruffle — Vincent McHugh
4.
a. : a strip of fabric that is gathered or pleated on one edge and attached along that edge as a trimming or finish
curtains with a ruffle at the bottom
a blouse trimmed with lace ruffles
— compare flounce IV
b. : ruff II 3a
c. : ruff II 3c
5. : the mesentery of a slaughtered meat animal
6. : the group of wings on a metal gudgeon for a wooden shaft
III. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: ruff (VI) + -le
1. of a drum : to beat with a ruffle
2. : to beat a ruffle on a drum
IV. noun
( -s )
: a low vibrating drumbeat less loud than a roll — compare ruffle and flourish