I. noun
or ruffe ˈrəf
Etymology: Middle English ruf
Date: 15th century
: a small freshwater European perch ( Acerina cernua )
[
ruff 1
]
II. noun
Etymology: probably back-formation from ruffle
Date: 1555
1. : a large round collar of pleated muslin or linen worn by men and women of the late 16th and early 17th centuries
2. : a fringe or frill of long hairs or feathers growing around or on the neck of an animal
3. : a common Eurasian sandpiper ( Philomachus pugnax ) whose male during the breeding season has a large ruff of erectile feathers on the neck
• ruffed ˈrəft adjective
III. verb
Etymology: Middle French roffler
Date: 1598
intransitive verb
: to take a trick with a trump
transitive verb
: to play a trump on (a card previously led or played)
IV. noun
Date: circa 1828
: the act of trumping