Main Entry:

²ruff

Function:

noun

Etymology:

probably back-formation from ruffle

Date:

1555

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

[ruff illustration]