ruff

Meanings

1. A circular frill or ruffle on a garment, especially a starched, fluted frill at the neck in Elizabethan and Jacobean England (1560s–1620s).
2. Anything formed with plaits or flutings like a frill.
3. Senses relating to animals.
4. A gregarious, medium-sized wading bird of species Calidris pugnax (syn. Philomachus pugnax), of Eurasia; specifically, a male of the species which develops a distinctive ruff of feathers and ear tufts during mating season (the female is called a reeve).
5. A set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers on or around the neck of a bird.
6. A collar of lengthened or distinctively coloured fur on or around the neck of an animal.
7. A collar on a shaft or other piece to prevent endwise motion.
8. An exhibition of haughtiness or pride.
9. Tumultuous or wanton conduct or procedure.

1. To shape (fabric, etc.) into a ruff; to adorn (a garment, etc.) with a ruff.
2. Of a falcon, hawk, etc.: to hit (the prey) without fixing or grabbing hold of it.
3. To ruffle; to disorder.
4. Of a bird: to ruffle its feathers.
5. To boast, to brag.
6. To speak in a loud and domineering manner; to bluster, to swagger.

1. Alternative spelling of ruffe: a small freshwater fish of the genus Gymnocephalus; specifically a Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua or Gymnocephalus cernuus) which has spiny fins; the pope.
2. A fish of species Arripis georgianus, found in cool waters off the southern coast of Australia
3. A bottom-dwelling carnivorous fish of the family Sparidae found in temperate and tropical waters; a porgy or sea bream.

1. To play a trump card to a trick when unable to follow suit (that is, when unable to play a card of the same suit as the previous or leading card).
2. Especially in the form ruff out: to defeat (a card, etc.) by ruffing, thus establishing the master card in the suit led.

1. An instance of ruffing, or an opportunity to ruff, when unable to follow suit.
2. A game similar to whist and its predecessor.

1. A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruffle.

1. To beat a ruff or ruffle, as on a drum.
2. Of a drum, etc.: to have a ruff or ruffle beaten on it.

1. The bark of a dog; arf, woof.

1. Alternative spelling of rough.

Etymology

Clipping of ruffle, or possibly from rough.