What does "ruff" mean?
A circular frill or ruffle on a garment, especially a starched, fluted frill at the neck in Elizabethan and Jacobean England (1560s–1620s).
Ruff
/ɹʌf/ adj, intj, noun, verb, slang
adj, intj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A circular frill or ruffle on a garment, especially a starched, fluted frill at the neck in Elizabethan and Jacobean England (1560s–1620s).
- Grammar: ruff is listed as adj, intj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: frill, trump, ace, barrage.
- Useful contrasts: bare neck, follow suit, no collar.
- Usage evidence: He is no longer a city dweller who has even once in his life caught a ruff or seen how, on clear and cool autumn days, flocks of migrating thrushes drift over a village. Until his death he will be drawn to freedom.
How to use "ruff"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ruff" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ruff" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ruff" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ruff" is acting as adj, intj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A circular frill or ruffle on a garment, especially a starched, fluted frill at the neck in Elizabethan and Jacobean England (1560s–1620s).
"You a Captaine? you ſlaue, for what? for tearing a poore Whores Ruffe in a Bawdy-houſe? Hee a Captaine? hang him Rogue, hee liues vpon mouldie ſtew'd-Pruines, and dry'de Cakes."
- 2 Alternative spelling of ruffe: a small freshwater fish of the genus Gymnocephalus; specifically a Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua or Gymnocephalus cernuus) which has spiny fins; the pope. alt-of, alternative
"Of Fiſhes thoſe we feed on in England, are either ſcaled, as ſturgian, ſalmon, grailing, ſhuins, carps, breams, the barbel, mullet, pike, luce, perch, ruffs, herrings, ſprats, pilchers, roche, ſhads, dorry, gudgin, and umbers;[…]"
- 3 An instance of ruffing, or an opportunity to ruff, when unable to follow suit.
"Take, for example, the axiom "Never give declarer a ruff-and-sluff.""
- 4 A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruffle. often
"I also used quite a few of the flat-fingered kind of ruff (as used before on the doumbek in the baladi section) to embellish some notes."
- 5 (card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit wordnet
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 Anything formed with plaits or flutings like a frill.
"Fair from its humble bed I rear'd this flow'r; / Suckled, and chear'd, with air, and ſun, and ſhow'r; / Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I ſpread, / Bright with the gilded button tipt its head; […]"
- 7 A fish of species Arripis georgianus, found in cool waters off the southern coast of Australia
"In the same genus there is another species which makes better eating. This is A[rripis] georgianus, popularly known as the ruff or tommy ruff (again, nothing to do with anything bearing that name in the Old World), but now officially called 'Australian herring' (another aberration). [...] The ruff, on the other hand, although a smaller fish, makes good eating; its flesh is tender and tasty."
- 8 A game similar to whist and its predecessor. obsolete
"[W]hat ſhall wee haue a game at Trumpe or Ruffe to driue away the time, how ſay you?"
- 9 common Eurasian sandpiper; the male has an erectile neck ruff in breeding season wordnet
- 10 Senses relating to animals.; A gregarious, medium-sized wading bird of species Calidris pugnax (syn. Philomachus pugnax), of Eurasia; specifically, a male of the species which develops a distinctive ruff of feathers and ear tufts during mating season (the female is called a reeve).
"A reeve shows her readiness to copulate by crouching in a particular residence. In a crowded lek she selects an individual ruff by turning towards him while still crouching. Some ruffs are thus chosen frequently while others are never selected. Ruff and reeve only copulate after she has crouched and has sometimes nibbled the feathers at the back of the ruff’s head."
- 11 A bottom-dwelling carnivorous fish of the family Sparidae found in temperate and tropical waters; a porgy or sea bream. obsolete
"A Ruff, or Sea-bream. Melanurus."
- 12 a high tight collar wordnet
- 13 Senses relating to animals.; A set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers on or around the neck of a bird.
"I ſhall call this bird the painted vulture. […] the head and neck bare of feathers nearly down to the ſtomach, when the feathers begin to cover the ſkin, and ſoon become long and of a ſoft texture, forming a ruff or tippet, in which the bird by contracting his neck can hide that as well as his head: […]"
- 14 an external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal wordnet
- 15 Senses relating to animals.; A collar of lengthened or distinctively coloured fur on or around the neck of an animal.
"The Afghan urial, which is smaller than the Transcaspian urial, is found in the mountains near Iran's eastern frontier, and is the wild sheep of Afghanistan and western Pakistan. Its ruff is black sprinkled with white hairs and its bib is white."
- 16 A collar on a shaft or other piece to prevent endwise motion.
"The stroke of the cut-off valves is very short, and the ruffs on the parts, g, g, regulate its length."
- 17 An exhibition of haughtiness or pride. obsolete
"Nay, how many Emperours and Princes, that in the Ruff of all their Glory have been taken down from the Head of a Conquering Army, to the Wheel of the Victor's Chariot?"
- 18 Tumultuous or wanton conduct or procedure. obsolete
"Thou must not pill and poll thy tenant, that thou mayest have, as they say, Unde, and that thy never enough, to ruffle it out in a riotous ruff, and a prodigal, dissolute, and licentious living."
Verb
- 1 To shape (fabric, etc.) into a ruff; to adorn (a garment, etc.) with a ruff. transitive
"The Ladies too were carp’d at, and their Dreſs, / He wants ’em all ruff’d up like good Queen Beſs!"
- 2 To play a trump card to a trick when unable to follow suit (that is, when unable to play a card of the same suit as the previous or leading card). ambitransitive
"Zia [Mahmood] ruffed the club return and then played the ace of hearts and a heart, leaving declarer with another spade loser for two down."
- 3 To beat a ruff or ruffle, as on a drum. often, transitive
"[A] wooden leg and an empty coat sleeve, and fourteen poor pennies a-day, are all that I have got by allowing myself to be seduced by the cursed din of a Scotchman's bagpipe. I was once a good yeoman, in Kent, and in an evil hour went to the fair at Maidstone. The drum ruffed, and the pipe screamed in the market-place, and away I went to see what was to happen. […] I fairly forgot myself, and scarcely ever knew where I was or what I was doing, till I found myself on board a ship, and saw the olive hills and vineyards of Spain, […]"
- 4 play a trump wordnet
- 5 Of a falcon, hawk, etc.: to hit (the prey) without fixing or grabbing hold of it. transitive
"Instantly the keen-eyed hawk "stooped," or descended, with a rushing swoop, and struck one of the birds with her claws, but without killing it, which is called "rifling," or "ruffing" it."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 Especially in the form ruff out: to defeat (a card, etc.) by ruffing, thus establishing the master card in the suit led. transitive
"Then I played on diamonds, to ruff out the suit – but East had four diamonds and West none, so I had annoyingly to lose a trick to East's ♣K in the end."
- 7 Of a drum, etc.: to have a ruff or ruffle beaten on it. intransitive, often
"If anything could have kept me awake, this cracked drum would; and, in truth, I had my fears, when, on entering my room, I heard my hero ruffing it away immediately in front of the window; but they were groundless apprehensions, though his efforts were varied and unceasing, for I undressed to the tune of the "Grenadiers' March," stepped into bed to the "Reveille," and dropped fast asleep to the first part of "Yankee Doodle!""
- 8 To ruffle; to disorder. rare, transitive
"Thenceforth the fether in her lofty creſt, / Ruffed of loue, gan lowly to auaile, / And her prowd portaunce, and her princely geſt, / VVith which ſhe earſt tryumphed, now did quaile: […]"
- 9 Of a bird: to ruffle its feathers. obsolete, transitive
""Scat," the crow said. I ignored him. He ruffed up his feathers, doubling his size."
- 10 To boast, to brag. obsolete, transitive
- 11 To speak in a loud and domineering manner; to bluster, to swagger. intransitive, obsolete
"[…] Mr Gillies ruffed and screamed out so loud in approbation, that he fell from his chair, and brought an American gentleman down with him."
Adjective
- 1 Alternative spelling of rough. alt-of, alternative, colloquial, obsolete, often
"The Herb Pantagruelion hath a little Root somewhat hard and ruff, roundish, terminating in an obtuse and very blunt Point, and having some of its Veins, Strings or Filaments coloured with some spots of white, […]"
Intj
- 1 The bark of a dog; arf, woof. often
""Ruff, ruff!" Around the corner, a little light brown, short-haired dog came running. On seeing the little brown terrier, Annie and Marie looked at one another. Letting out a moan, Annie said, "Oh no, it's JB! I wish Joyce would take him to dog school and have him taught some manners.""
Antonyms
bare neckfollow suitno collar
Example
"He is no longer a city dweller who has even once in his life caught a ruff or seen how, on clear and cool autumn days, flocks of migrating thrushes drift over a village. Until his death he will be drawn to freedom."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ruff"?
Common synonyms include: frill, trump, ace, barrage, beat, beating.
How do you use "ruff" in a sentence?
He is no longer a city dweller who has even once in his life caught a ruff or seen how, on clear and cool autumn days, flocks of migrating thrushes drift over a village. Until his death he will be drawn to freedom.
How do you pronounce "ruff"?
Pronounced /ɹʌf/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Clipping of ruffle, or possibly from rough.
Etymology 2
Possibly from rough.
Etymology 3
From Old French roffle, rouffle (earlier romfle, ronfle), or from Italian ronfa (“card game similar to whist”); these words are possibly from Old French triomphe (“a triumph, victory”), Italian trionfo (“triumph; trump card”), from Latin triumphus (“hymn to Bacchus; celebration, triumph”), ultimately from Ancient Greek θρῐ́ᾰμβος (thrĭ́ămbos, “hymn to Dionysius, thriambus”). The verb is derived from the noun. Doublet of trump.
Etymology 4
Onomatopoeic.