Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
adj
Alternative spelling of rough.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative, colloquial, obsolete, often
Topics: card-games, entertainment, games, government, lifestyle, military, music, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
intj
The bark of a dog; arf, woof.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: often
Topics: card-games, entertainment, games, government, lifestyle, military, music, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A circular frill or ruffle on a garment, especially a starched, fluted frill at the neck in Elizabethan and Jacobean England (1560s–1620s).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Anything formed with plaits or flutings like a frill.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
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).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Senses relating to animals.
A set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers on or around the neck of a bird.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences, ornithology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Senses relating to animals.
A collar of lengthened or distinctively coloured fur on or around the neck of an animal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A collar on a shaft or other piece to prevent endwise motion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An exhibition of haughtiness or pride.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Tumultuous or wanton conduct or procedure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A fish of species Arripis georgianus, found in cool waters off the southern coast of Australia
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: Australian herring, tommy ruff
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A bottom-dwelling carnivorous fish of the family Sparidae found in temperate and tropical waters; a porgy or sea bream.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An instance of ruffing, or an opportunity to ruff, when unable to follow suit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: card-games, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A game similar to whist and its predecessor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Topics: card-games, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruffle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: often
Topics: card-games, entertainment, games, government, lifestyle, military, music, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To shape (fabric, etc.) into a ruff; to adorn (a garment, etc.) with a ruff.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Of a falcon, hawk, etc.: to hit (the prey) without fixing or grabbing hold of it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: falconry, hobbies, hunting, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To ruffle; to disorder.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Of a bird: to ruffle its feathers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To boast, to brag.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To speak in a loud and domineering manner; to bluster, to swagger.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
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).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
Topics: card-games, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Especially in the form ruff out: to defeat (a card, etc.) by ruffing, thus establishing the master card in the suit led.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: card-games, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To beat a ruff or ruffle, as on a drum.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: often, transitive
Topics: card-games, entertainment, games, government, lifestyle, military, music, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Of a drum, etc.: to have a ruff or ruffle beaten on it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, often
Topics: card-games, entertainment, games, government, lifestyle, military, music, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
(card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: trumping
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: turn, play
noun
common Eurasian sandpiper; the male has an erectile neck ruff in breeding season
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: Philomachus pugnax
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sandpiper
Narrower terms: reeve
noun
a high tight collar
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: choker, ruffle, neck ruff
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: collar, neckband
Narrower terms: fraise
noun
an external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: frill
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: external body part
verb
play a trump
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: trump
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: move, go
Narrower terms: overtrump, crossruff
History
Onomatopoeic.
Clipping of ruffle, or possibly from rough.
Possibly from rough.
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.
Across languages
109 source translations are retained for this English entry.
