Part 441

Ruf"fle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ruffled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ruffling (?).] [From Ruff a plaited collar, a drum beat, a tumult: cf. OD. ruyffelen to wrinkle.] 1. To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.

2. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.

3. To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by agitation or commotion.

The fantastic revelries . . . that so often ruffled the placid bosom of the Nile.

I. Taylor.

She smoothed the ruffled seas.

Dryden.

4. To erect in a ruff, as feathers.

Tennyson.

5. (Mil.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.

6. To discompose; to agitate; to disturb.

These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind.

Sir W. Hamilton.

But, ever after, the small violence done Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart.

Tennyson.

7. To throw into disorder or confusion.

Where best He might the ruffled foe infest.

Hudibras.

8. To throw together in a disorderly manner. [R.]

I ruffled up falen leaves in heap.

Chapman

To ruffle the feathers of, to exite the resentment of; to irritate.

Ruf"fle (?), v. i. [Perhaps of different origin from ruffle to wrinkle; cf. OD. roffeln, roffen, to pander, LG. raffein, Dan. ruffer a pimp. Cf. Rufflan.] 1. To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent. [R.]

The night comes on, and the bleak winds Do sorely ruffle.

Shak.

2. To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.

On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined, Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind.

Dryden.