/ ˈrʌfl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
ruffle sth (up) to disturb the smooth surface of sth, so that it is not even :
She ruffled his hair affectionately.
The bird ruffled up its feathers.
2.
[ often passive ] to make sb annoyed, worried or upset
SYN fluster :
She was obviously ruffled by his question.
He never gets ruffled , even under pressure.
•
IDIOMS
- ruffle sb's / a few feathers
—more at smooth verb
■ noun
[ usually pl. ] a strip of cloth that is sewn in folds and is used to decorate a piece of clothing at the neck or wrists
SYN frill
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a verb): of unknown origin. Current noun senses date from the late 17th cent.