ruff

¹ruff

noun \ˈrəf\

Definition of RUFF

: a small freshwater European perch (Acerina cernua)

Variants of RUFF

ruff or ruffe \ˈrəf\

Origin of RUFF

Middle English ruf

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with RUFF

bluff, buff, chough, chuff, cuff, duff, fluff, gruff, guff, huff, luff, muff, puff, rough, scruff, scuff, slough, snuff, sough, stuff, tough, tuff

²ruff

noun

Definition of RUFF

1

: a large round collar of pleated muslin or linen worn by men and women of the late 16th and early 17th centuries

2

: a fringe or frill of long hairs or feathers growing around or on the neck of an animal

3

: a common Eurasian sandpiper (Philomachus pugnax) whose male during the breeding season has a large ruff of erectile feathers on the neck

— ruffed \ˈrəft\ adjective

Illustration of RUFF

Origin of RUFF

probably back-formation from ruffle

First Known Use: 1555

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, skein, zygodactyl

³ruff

verb

Definition of RUFF

intransitive verb

: to take a trick with a trump

transitive verb

: to play a trump on (a card previously led or played)

Origin of RUFF

Middle French roffler

First Known Use: 1598

⁴ruff

noun

Definition of RUFF

: the act of trumping

First Known Use of RUFF

circa 1828

Other Game Terms

bezique, carom, convention, crap, euchre, gambit, monte, parlay, tierce