Rheeve

1 definition found

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

  Ruff \Ruff\, n. [Of uncertain origin: cf. Icel. r[=u]finn rough,
     uncombed, Pr. ruf rude, rough, Sp. rufo frizzed, crisp,
     curled, G. raufen to pluck, fight, rupfen to pluck, pull, E.
     rough. [root]18. Cf. {Ruffle} to wrinkle.]
     1. A muslin or linen collar plaited, crimped, or fluted, worn
        formerly by both sexes, now only by women and children.


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              Here to-morrow with his best ruff on. --Shak.
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              His gravity is much lessened since the late
              proclamation came out against ruffs; . . . they were
              come to that height of excess herein, that twenty
              shillings were used to be paid for starching of a
              ruff.                                 --Howell.
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     2. Something formed with plaits or flutings, like the collar
        of this name.
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              I reared this flower; . . .
              Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I spread. --Pope.
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     3. An exhibition of pride or haughtiness.
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              How many princes . . . 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!                              --L'Estrange.
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     4. Wanton or tumultuous procedure or conduct. [Obs.]
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              To ruffle it out in a riotous ruff.   --Latimer.
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     5. (Mil.) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a
        roll; a ruffle.
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     6. (Mach.) A collar on a shaft ot other piece to prevent
        endwise motion. See Illust. of {Collar}.
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     7. (Zool.) A set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers
        round, or on, the neck of a bird.
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     8. (Zool.)
        (a) A limicoline bird of Europe and Asia ({Pavoncella
            pugnax}, syn. {Philomachus pugnax}) allied to the
            sandpipers. The males during the breeding season have
            a large ruff of erectile feathers, variable in their
            colors, on the neck, and yellowish naked tubercles on
            the face. They are polygamous, and are noted for their
            pugnacity in the breeding season. The female is called
            {reeve}, or {rheeve}.
        (b) A variety of the domestic pigeon, having a ruff of its
            neck.
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