ruff 1 (r f)n.1. A stiffly starched frilled or pleated circular collar of lace, muslin, or other fine fabric, worn by men and women in the 16th and 17th centuries. 2. A distinctive collarlike projection around the neck, as of feathers on a bird or of fur on a mammal. 3. A Eurasian sandpiper (Philomachus pugnax) the male of which has collarlike, erectile feathers around the neck during the breeding season.
ruffed adj. |
ruff 2 (r f) Games n.1. The playing of a trump card when one cannot follow suit. 2. An old game resembling whist. tr. & intr.v. ruffed, ruff·ing, ruffs To trump or play a trump.
[Obsolete French ronfle, roffle, a kind of card game, from Old French ronfle, from renfler, to rise : re-, re- + enfler, to cause to swell (from Latin nfl re; see inflate).] |
ruff 3 (r f)n. A small European freshwater fish (Acerina cernua) related to the perches.
[Middle English ruffe, probably from Medieval Latin rufus, a kind of fish.] |
ruff 4 (r f)
[Of imitative origin.] |
ruff 1 Noun
1. a circular pleated or fluted cloth collar
2. a natural growth of long or coloured hair or feathers around the necks of certain animals or birds
3. a bird of the sandpiper family [from ruffle]
ruff 2 Noun, vb
Cards same as
trump1 [Old French
roffle]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | ruff - an external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal |
| 2. | ruff - a high tight collar collar, neckband - a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over fraise - a ruff for the neck worn in the 16th century |
| 3. | ruff - common Eurasian sandpiper; the male has an erectile neck ruff in breeding seasonsandpiper - any of numerous usually small wading birds having a slender bill and piping call; closely related to the plovers |
| 4. | ruff - (card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suitturn, play - (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play" bridge - any of various card games based on whist for four players |
| Verb | 1. | ruff - play a trump move, go - have a turn; make one's move in a game; "Can I go now?" overtrump - play a trump higher than (one previously played) to the trick |