ruffle
I. ruf·fle1 (rŭfʹəl)n. 1. A strip of frilled or closely pleated fabric used for trimming or decoration. 2. A ruff on a bird. 3. a. A ruckus or fray. b. Annoyance; vexation. 4. An irregularity or a slight disturbance of a surface.v. ruf·fled, ruf·fling, ruf·flesv. tr. 1. To disturb the smoothness or regularity of; ripple. 2. To pleat or gather (fabric) into a ruffle. 3. To erect (the feathers). Used of birds. 4. To discompose; 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. 2. To flutter. 3. To become flustered. [From Middle English ruffelen, to roughen.] II. ruf·fle2 (rŭfʹəl)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 ruff4.] III. ruf·fle3 (rŭfʹəl)intr.v. ruf·fled, ruf·fling, ruf·fles To behave arrogantly or roughly; swagger. [Middle English ruffelen, to quarrel.] rufʹfler n.
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