Definitions of ruff [ʌf]

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Definition of 'ruff'

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

1. (n.) ruff
a neckpiece or collar of lace, lawn, or the like, gathered into deep, full, regular folds, worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.

2.  ruff
a collar, or set of lengthened or specially marked hairs or feathers, on the neck of an animal.

3.  ruff
a Eurasian sandpiper, Philomachus pugnax, the male of which has a large erectile ruff of feathers during the breeding season.

4. (n.) ruff
an act or instance of trumping in cards when one cannot follow suit.

5.  ruff
an old game of cards resembling whist.

6. (v.i.) ruff
to trump when unable to follow suit.

7. (n.) ruff
a small European freshwater fish, Acerina cernua, of the perch family.

Etymology: (1400–50; ME ruf, roffe; perh. identical with rough)

Definition of 'ruff'

Princeton's WordNet

1. (noun) frill, ruff
an external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal

2. (noun) choker, ruff, ruffle, neck ruff
a high tight collar

3. (noun) ruff, Philomachus pugnax
common Eurasian sandpiper; the male has an erectile neck ruff in breeding season

4. (verb) ruff, trumping
(card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit

5. (verb) trump, ruff
play a trump

Definition of 'ruff'

Webster Dictionary

1. (noun) ruff
a game similar to whist, and the predecessor of it

2. (noun) ruff
the act of trumping, especially when one has no card of the suit led

3. (noun) ruff
a muslin or linen collar plaited, crimped, or fluted, worn formerly by both sexes, now only by women and children

4. (noun) ruff
something formed with plaits or flutings, like the collar of this name

5. (noun) ruff
an exhibition of pride or haughtiness

6. (noun) ruff
wanton or tumultuous procedure or conduct

7. (noun) ruff
a low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; a ruffle

8. (noun) ruff
a collar on a shaft ot other piece to prevent endwise motion. See Illust. of Collar

9. (noun) ruff
a set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers round, or on, the neck of a bird

10. (noun) ruff
a limicoline bird of Europe and Asia (Pavoncella, / Philommachus, pugnax) allied to the sandpipers. The males during the breeding season have a large ruff of erectile feathers, variable in their colors, on the neck, and yellowish naked tubercles on the face. They are polygamous, and are noted for their pugnacity in the breeding season. The female is called reeve, or rheeve

11. (noun) ruff
a variety of the domestic pigeon, having a ruff of its neck

12. (noun) ruff
alt. of Ruffe

13. ruff
to trump

14. (verb) ruff
to ruffle; to disorder

15. (verb) ruff
to beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum

16. (verb) ruff
to hit, as the prey, without fixing it

'ruff' - Nearby Entries
rue ruefulness ruff ruffed grouse ruffian ruffianism ruffianly

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