Ruffle \Ruf"fle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ruffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ruffling.]

[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. --I. Taylor.

She smoothed the ruffled seas. --Dryden.

4. To erect in a ruff, as feathers.

[the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume. --Tennyson.

5. (Mil.) 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 W. Hamilton.

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

7. To throw into disorder or confusion.

Where best He might the ruffled foe infest. --Hudibras.

8. To throw together in a disorderly manner. [R.]

I ruffled up falen leaves in heap. --Chapman

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

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Ruffle \Ruf"fle\, n. [See Ruffle, v. t. & i.]

1. That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and used as a trimming; a frill.

2. A state of being ruffled or disturbed; disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind in a ruffle.

3. (Mil.) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; -- called also ruff. --H. L. Scott.

4. (Zo["o]l.) The connected series of large egg capsules, or o["o]thec[ae], of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur. See O["o]theca.

Ruffle of a boot, the top turned down, and scalloped or plaited. --Halliwell.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Ruffle \Ruf"fle\, v. i. [Perhaps of different origin from ruffle to wrinkle; cf. OD. roffeln, roffen, to pander, LG. raffein, Dan. ruffer a pimp. Cf. Rufflan.]

1. To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent. [R.]

The night comes on, and the bleak winds Do sorely ruffle. --Shak.

2. To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.

On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined, Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind. --Dryden.

3. To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.

They would ruffle with jurors. --Bacon.

Gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery. --Sir W. Scott.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)