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ruffle
ruf·fle / ˈrəfəl/ • v. [tr.] 1. disorder or disarrange (someone's hair), typically by running one's hands through it: he ruffled her hair affectionately. ∎ (of a bird) erect (its feathers) in anger or display: on his departure to the high wires, the starling ruffled his feathers and flirted his wings. ∎ disturb the smoothness or tranquility of: the evening breeze ruffled the surface of the pond in the yard. ∎ disconcert or upset the composure of (someone): Brian had been ruffled by her questions. 2. [usu. as adj.] (ruffled) ornament with or gather into a frill: a blouse with a high ruffled neck. • n. 1. an ornamental gathered or goffered frill of lace or other cloth on a garment, esp. around the wrist or neck. 2. a vibrating drumbeat. PHRASES: ruffle someone's feathers cause someone to become annoyed or upset: tampering with the traditional approach would ruffle a few feathers. smooth someone's ruffled feathers make someone less angry or irritated by using soothing words. |
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Cite this article
"ruffle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ruffle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ruffle.html "ruffle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ruffle.html |
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ruffle
ruffle1 spoil the orderly arrangement of XIII; (gen.) disorder, disarrange XVI; disturb the mind or temper of XVII. of unkn. orig.
Hence sb. disorderly state XVI; ornamental edging to a garment XVIII. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "ruffle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ruffle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ruffle.html T. F. HOAD. "ruffle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ruffle.html |
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ruffle
ruffle2 (arch.) contend with; swagger, hector. XV. of unkn. orig.
Hence ruffler (-ER1) †one of a class of vagabonds; swaggering fellow. XVI. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "ruffle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ruffle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ruffle1.html T. F. HOAD. "ruffle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ruffle1.html |
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ruffle
ruffle Part of an extended pseudopodium by which a moving fibroblast attaches to the surface.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "ruffle." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "ruffle." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ruffle.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "ruffle." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ruffle.html |
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ruffle
ruffle •baffle, raffle, snaffle
•falafel
•piffle, riffle, skiffle, sniffle, whiffle
•nymphal • apocryphal
•Eiffel, rifle, stifle, trifle
•coffle, offal, waffle
•duffel, kerfuffle, muffle, ruffle, scuffle, shuffle, snuffle, truffle
•triumphal
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Cite this article
"ruffle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ruffle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ruffle.html "ruffle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ruffle.html |
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