ruffle

Meaning

Noun

1. Any gathered or curled strip of fabric added as trim or decoration.
2. Disturbance; agitation; commotion.
3. A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruff.
4. The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur.

Verb

1. To make a ruffle in; to curl or flute, as an edge of fabric.
2. To disturb; especially, to cause to flutter.
3. To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
4. To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.
5. To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
6. To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
7. To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
8. To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
9. To throw together in a disorderly manner.

Synonyms

rumple

dishevel

disturb

tousle

frill

agitate

flounce

disarrange

trouble

muss

annoy

upset

riffle

discompose

furbelow

disturbance

ruff

fluff

perturb

stir

crumple

ripple

fluster

disconcert

flurry

disorder

neck ruff

ruffle up

flutter

pleat

undulate

mix

crease

fold

curl

abash

affray

aggravate

alarm

annoyance

bewilder

choker

cock

cockle

confuse

crinkle

exasperate

flick

fray

gall

irritate

irritation

mess up

perplex

perturbation

plait

pother

prance

pucker

ruche

sashay

shuffle

skirmish

strut

swagger

tittup

tuck

turmoil

untidy

vex

jar

🫙

madden

mash

unnerve

confound

muddle

commotion

nettle

outbreak

unsettle

coil

rimple

pester

pie

🥧

pique

uproar

bustle

ply

acerbate

stick in someone’s craw

press

provoke

vexation

puzzle

raise

restlessness

bristle

riot

bother

roil

rough

roughen

row

wave

👋

ruck

ruction

blend

bemuse

befuddle

rumpus

welter

scandalize

scramble

scrimmage

scuffle

shock

⚡

worry

pick up heavy object 3

squeeze

stifle

arouse

stir up

treat in

erect feathers

tangle

temper

low drumbeat

anger

💢

trepidation

agitation

drape

embarrass

enervate

engagement

abrade

excite

excitement

tucker

disquiet

dispute

dismay

discomfit

disarray

crush

turbulence

free-for-all

contention

fringe

consternation

fuss

make dishevelled

incite

turn back

addle

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹʌfəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: ruffelen

Cognate with Middle Dutch: ruyffelen

Cognate with English: ruff

In summary

From Middle English ruffelen, perhaps from Old Norse hrufla (“to graze, scratch”) or Middle Low German ruffelen (“to wrinkle, curl”). Further origin unknown. Related to Middle Dutch ruyffelen, German Low German ruffeln. See English ruff.