Ruffling

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ruffle \Ruf"fle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ruffled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Ruffling}.] [From {Ruff} a plaited collar, a drum beat, a
     tumult: cf. OD. ruyffelen to wrinkle.]
     1. To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers,
        plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
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     2. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.
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     3. To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by
        agitation or commotion.
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              The fantastic revelries . . . that so often ruffled
              the placid bosom of the Nile.         --I. Taylor.
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              She smoothed the ruffled seas.        --Dryden.
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     4. To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
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              [the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume. --Tennyson.
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     5. (Mil.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
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     6. To discompose; to agitate; to disturb.
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              These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind. --Sir W.
                                                    Hamilton.
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              But, ever after, the small violence done
              Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart.
                                                    --Tennyson.
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     7. To throw into disorder or confusion.
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              Where best
              He might the ruffled foe infest.      --Hudibras.
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     8. To throw together in a disorderly manner. [R.]
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              I ruffled up falen leaves in heap.    --Chapman
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     {To ruffle the feathers of}, to exite the resentment of; to
        irritate.
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