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)