The Collaborative International Dictionary
Ruffle \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.]
To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.
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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. -
To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
[the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume.
--Tennyson. (Mil.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
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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. -
To throw into disorder or confusion.
Where best He might the ruffled foe infest.
--Hudibras. -
To throw together in a disorderly manner. [R.]
I ruffled up falen leaves in heap.
--ChapmanTo ruffle the feathers of, to exite the resentment of; to irritate.
Wiktionary
n. The action of the verb ''ruffle'' vb. (present participle of ruffle English)
Usage examples of "ruffling".
Then, feathers ruffling, it backed slowly away and vanished into the flashwood.
The sprookje, feathers ruffling, imitated his gesture with frightening accuracy.
On the far side a patch of bright green grass was ruffling softly in the slight breeze, looking like a piece of her own forest.
In the center of the clearing, the wind ruffling the hair at the back of her head, she faced him and waited.
The canvas just above us quietly ruffling, the guy wires humming, even the center pole vibrating enough to sing gently.
The air blew through my inch of hair, ruffling it like meadow grass, and he smiled as he looked at me.
What a world was that into which I went ruffling with my money, and rank and fine prospects!
Bangles of gold or silver or various colours, drawn well up the arms, provide an excellent embellishment, as do fancy garters with broad rufflings and tiny rosettes or ribbons.
Everywhere we were going was filled with spring-bubblings, with lively rufflings, not dangerous-looking but sprightly and vivid.