ruffled - definition, synonyms and pronunciation

Open English WordNet

shaken into waves or undulations as by wind“the rippled surface of the pond”“with ruffled flags flying”Synonyms: rippledOpposite unagitatedSimilar agitated
having decorative ruffles or frillsSynonyms: frilled frillyOpposite unadornedSimilar adorned, decorated

Word of the day · Nov 9About this word

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

“ruffled” is listed under Ruffle.

Ruf′fle transitive verb [past tense & past participle Ruffled; present participle & verbal noun Ruffling.]

Origin: From Ruff a plaited collar, a drum beat, a tumult: cf. OD. ruyffelen to wrinkle.

1. To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.

2. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.

3. To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by agitation or commotion.

The fantastic revelries... that so often ruffled the placid bosom of the Nile.— Isaac Taylor

She smoothed the ruffled seas.— John Dryden

4. To erect in a ruff, as feathers.

[the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume.— Alfred Tennyson

5. Military To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.

6. To discompose; to agitate; to disturb.

These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind.— Sir William Hamilton

But, ever after, the small violence done Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart.— Alfred Tennyson

7. To throw into disorder or confusion.

Where best He might the ruffled foe infest.—

8. To throw together in a disorderly manner. rare

I ruffled up falen leaves in heap.— George Chapman

To ruffle the feathers of, to exite the resentment of; to irritate.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54