Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RU-FES'CENT, a. [L. rufesco, to grow red.]

Reddish; tinged with red. – Ed. Encyc.

RUFF, n. [Arm. rouffenn, a wrinkle; W. rhevu, to thicken.]

1. A piece of plaited linen worn by females around the neck. – Addison.
2. Something puckered or plaited. – Pope.
3. A small fish, a species of Perca. – Walton.
4. A bird of the genus Tringa, with a tuft of feathers around the neck of the male, whence the name. The female is called reeve. – Ed. Encyc.
5. A state of roughness. [Sax. hreof. Obs.] – Chapman.
6. Pride; elevation; as, princes in the ruff of all their glory. – L'Estrange.
7. A particular species of pigeon.
8. At cards, the act of winning the trick by trumping the cards of another suit. [D. troef, troeven.]

RUFF, v.t.

1. To ruffle; to disorder. – Spenser.
2. To trump any other suit of cards at whist. [D. troef, troeven.]

RUFF'ED, pp.

Ruffled; disordered.

RUF'FIAN, a.

Brutal; savagely boisterous; as, ruffian rage. – Pope.

RUF'FIAN, n. [If this word signifies primarily a robber, it is from the root of rob, Sw. röfva, Dan. röver. In Scottish, ruffie is a worthless fellow. In It. ruffiano is a pimp, Sp. rufian, Port. rufiam; D. roffiaan, id.]

A boisterous, brutal fellow; a fellow ready for any desperate crime; a robber; a cut-throat; a murderer. – Addison.

RUF'FIAN, v.i.

To play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult. – Shak.

RUF'FI-AN-ISH, a.

Having the qualities or manners of a ruffian.

RUF'FI-AN-ISM, n.

The character of ruffians.

RUF'FIAN-LIKE, or RUF'FIAN-LY, a.

Like a ruffian; bold in crimes; violent; licentious. – Fulke.

RUF'FLE, n.¹

1. A strip of plaited cambric or other fine cloth attached to some border of a garment, as to the wristband or bosom. That at the bosom is sometimes called by the English, a frill.
2. Disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind or temper in a ruffle.

RUF'FLE, or RUFF, n.²

A particular beat or roll of the drum, used on certain occasions in military affairs, as a mark of respect. Lieutenant generals have three ruffles, as they pass by the regiment, guard, &c. Major generals have two, brigadiers one, &c. – Encyc.

RUF'FLE, v.i.

1. To grow rough or turbulent; as, the winds ruffle. – Shak.
2. To play loosely; to flutter. On his right shoulder his thick mane reclin'd, / Ruffles at speed and dances in the wind. – Dryden.
3. To be rough; to jar; to be in contention. They would ruffle with jurors. [Obs.] – Bacon.

RUF'FLE, v.t. [Belgic, ruyffelen, to wrinkle. Chaucer has riveling, wrinkling, and Spelman cites rifflura or rufflura from Bracton, as signifying in law a breach or laceration of the skin, made by the stroke of a stick.]

1. Properly, to wrinkle; to draw or contract into wrinkles, open plaits or folds. – Addison.
2. To disorder by disturbing a smooth surface; to make uneven by agitation; as, to ruffle the sea or a lake. She smooth'd the ruffl'd seas. – Dryden.
3. To discompose by disturbing a calm state of; to agitate; to disturb; as, to ruffle the mind; to ruffle the passions or the temper. It expresses less than fret and vex.
4. To throw into disorder or confusion. Where best / He might the ruffl'd foe invest. – Hudibras.
5. To throw together in a disorderly manner. I ruffl'd up fall'n leaves in heap. [Unusual.] – Chapman.
6. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.

RUF'FLE, or RUFF, v.t.

To beat the ruff or roll of the drum.

RUF'FLED, pp.

Disturbed; agitated; furnished with ruffles.

RUF'FLE-LESS, a.

Having no ruffles.

RUF'FLE-MENT, n.

Act of ruffling.

RUF'FLER, n.

A bully; a swaggerer. [Not in use.]

RUF'FLING, n.

Commotion; disturbance; agitation.

RUF'FLING, or RUF'FING, n.

A particular beat or roll of the drum, used on certain occasions as a mark of respect.

RUF'FLING, ppr.

Disturbing; agitating; furnishing with ruffles.

RUF'FLING, or RUF'FING, ppr.

Beating a roll of the drum.

RU'FOUS, a. [L. rufus; Sp. rufo; Port. ruivo; probably from the root of L. rubeo.]

Reddish; of a reddish color, or rather of a yellowish red.

RUF'TER-HOOD, n.

In falconry, a hood to be worn by a hawk when she is first drawn. – Bailey.