ruffling


ruf·fle 1

R0340400 (rŭf′əl)n.1. A strip of frilled or closely pleated fabric used for trimming or decoration.2. A ruff on a bird.3. An irregularity or a slight disturbance of a surface: the ruffle on the lake.4. A beating or rustling sound: the ruffle of drums in the distance; the ruffle of a skirt on the floor.v. ruf·fled, ruf·fling, ruf·fles v.tr.1. To disturb the smoothness or regularity of; ripple: The wind ruffled the water.2. a. To pleat or gather (fabric) into a ruffle.b. To put a ruffle on (a garment, for example).3. To erect (the feathers). Used of birds.4. To discompose or annoy; fluster: a book that is bound to ruffle some people.5. To flip through (the pages of a book).6. To shuffle (cards).v.intr.1. To become irregular or rough: His hair ruffled in the wind. 2. To become annoyed or flustered: What teacher doesn't ruffle when students act up in class?3. a. To flip through the pages of a book: ruffled through the book until I found the picture.b. To search for something in a container: ruffled in her bag looking for the keys.4. To make a beating or rustling sound.
[From Middle English ruffelen, to roughen.]

ruf·fle 2

R0340400 (rŭf′əl)n. A low continuous beating of a drum that is not as loud as a roll. Also called ruff4.tr.v. ruf·fled, ruf·fling, ruf·fles To beat a ruffle on (a drum).
[Probably from frequentative of ruff.]

ruf·fle 3

R0340400 (rŭf′əl)intr.v. ruf·fled, ruf·fling, ruf·fles Obsolete To behave arrogantly or roughly; swagger.
[Middle English ruffelen, to quarrel.]
ruf′fler n.

ruffling

(ˈrʌflɪŋ) n1. the act of unsettling or disturbing a person or his or her composure2. (Zoology) the act or an instance of a bird erecting its feathers in anger, display, etc