Part 439

Chaucer.

Old year, we'll dearly rue for you.

Tennyson.

Rue, n. [AS. hreów. See Rue, v. t.] Sorrow; repetance. [Obs.] Shak.

Rue"ful (?), a. 1. Causing one to rue or lament; woeful; mournful; sorrowful.

2. Expressing sorrow. "Rueful faces." Dryden.

Two rueful figures, with long black cloaks.

Sir W. Scott.

-- Rue"ful*ly, adv. -- Rue"ful*ness, n.

Ru"ell bone` (?). See rewel bone. [Obs.]

Ru*elle" (&?;), n. [F. ruelle a narrow street, a lan&?;, ruelle, fr. rue a street.] A private circle or assembly at a private house; a circle. [Obs.] Dryden.

Ru*fes"cent (?), a. [L. rufescens, p. pr. of rufescere to become reddish, fr. rufus red: cf. F. rufescent.] Reddish; tinged with red.

Ruff (?), n. [F. ronfle; cf. It. ronfa, Pg. rufa, rifa.] (Card Playing) (a) A game similar to whist, and the predecessor of it. Nares.

(b) The act of trumping, especially when one has no card of the suit led.

Ruff, v. i. & t. (Card Playing) To trump.

Ruff, n. [Of uncertain origin: cf. Icel. r&?;finn rough, uncombed, Pr. ruf rude, rough, Sp. rufo frizzed, crisp, curled, G. raufen to pluck, fight, rupfen to pluck, pull, E. rough. √18. Cf. Ruffle to wrinkle.] 1. A muslin or linen collar plaited, crimped, or fluted, worn formerly by both sexes, now only by women and children.

Here to-morrow with his best ruff on.

Shak.

His gravity is much lessened since the late proclamation came out against ruffs; . . . they were come to that height of excess herein, that twenty shillings were used to be paid for starching of a ruff.

Howell.

2. Something formed with plaits or flutings, like the collar of this name.

I reared this flower; . . . Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I spread.

Pope.

3. An exhibition of pride or haughtiness.

How many princes . . . in the ruff of all their glory, have been taken down from the head of a conquering army to the wheel of the victor's chariot!

L'Estrange.

4. Wanton or tumultuous procedure or conduct. [Obs.]

To ruffle it out in a riotous ruff.