ruffle
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ruffle
- /ˈɹʌfəl/
Rhymes with -ʌfəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English ruffelen, perhaps from Old Norse hrufla (“to graze, scratch”) or Middle Low German ruffelen (“to wrinkle, curl”). Further origin unknown. Related to Middle Dutch ruyffelen, German Low German ruffeln. See English ruff.
noun ruffles
- Any gathered or curled strip of fabric added as trim or decoration. She loved the dress with the lace ruffle at the hem.
- Disturbance; agitation; commotion. to put the mind in a ruffle
- A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruff.
- The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur.
verb ruffles · ruffling · ruffled
- To make a ruffle in; to curl or flute, as an edge of fabric. Ruffle the end of the cuff.
-
To disturb; especially, to cause to flutter.
The wind ruffled the papers.
Similar: perturb, trouble, unsettle, agitate, freak, sting, bother, bring down, discompose, unstring, disconcert, enturbulate
- To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent. The night comes on, and the bleak winds / Do sorely ruffle.
- To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter. On his right shoulder his thick mane ', / Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind.
- To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger. They would ruffle with jurors.
- To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
- To erect in a ruff, as feathers. [T]he barge with oar and sail / Moved from the brink, like some full-breasted swan / That, fluting a wild carol ere her death, / Ruffles her pure cold plume, and takes the flood / With swarthy webs.
- To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
- To throw together in a disorderly manner. Within a thicket I reposed; when round / I ruffled up fall'n leaves in heap; and found, / Let fall from heaven, a sleep interminate.
Translations
Every language
noun strip of fabric
| Español | volante |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | ラッフル raffuru |
| 中文 | 荷葉邊 /荷叶边 héyèbiān |
| Português | dobra, prega, babado |
| Français | falbala |
| Deutsch | Rüsche, Krause |
| Italiano | falpalà, frangia, gala, frappa, guarnitura, volant |
| Русский | оборка oborka |
verb to curl or flute
| Español | retorcer |
|---|---|
| Português | barrar |
| Français | ébouriffer |
| Deutsch | kräuseln |
| Ελληνικά | σούφρα soúfra |
verb to disturb
| Português | agitar |
|---|
Talk about this word "ruffle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ruffle. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. ruffle. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ruffle "ruffle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ruffle.Cite this
@misc{ruffle_2026,
title = {ruffle},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ruffle},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
