ruff Definition

ruff¹
noun

1. A circular pleated or frilled collar, worn in the late 16c and early 17c, or more recently by the members of some choirs.
2a. A fringe or frill of feathers growing on a bird's neck;
2b. A similar fringe of hair on an animal's neck.
3. A type of ruffed domestic pigeon.

Derivative: ruffed
adj

Etymology: 16c.

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ruff²
verb

tr & intr
ruffed, ruffing
1. To trump.

noun

1. An act of trumping.
2. An old card-game, similar to whist or trumps.

Etymology: 16c: from French rouffle, Italian ronfa.

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ruff³
noun

1a. A bird of the sandpiper family;
1b. The male of this species, which grows a large ruff of feathers during the breeding season. See also reeve.

Etymology: 17c.

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ruff⁴
ruffe
noun

1. A small freshwater fish of the perch family, which has one dorsal fin.