Ruffle — Defs

01 v. t. To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.

imp. & p. p. Ruffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ruffling

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.
“[the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume.” — Tennyson.
5.
To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.(Mil.)
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.

Phrases & compounds

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

02 v. i. To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.

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.
3.
To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
“They would ruffle with jurors.” — Bacon.

“Gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery.” — Sir W. Scott.

03 n. That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and u…

1.
That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and used as a trimming; a frill.
2.
A state of being ruffled or disturbed; disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind in a ruffle.
3.
A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; -- called also ruff.(Mil.) Also: ruff
4.
The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur. See Ootheca.(Zool.) See: Ootheca

Phrases & compounds

Ruffle of a boot — the top turned down, and scalloped or plaited.