noun

ruff

ruhf

Ruff (noun) means a stiff, frilled collar worn around the neck, especially in 16th and 17th century fashion. Example: “The portrait showed a nobleman in a starched white ruff.”

noun

A stiff, frilled collar worn around the neck, especially in 16th and 17th century fashion.

"The portrait showed a nobleman in a starched white ruff."

A wading bird known for the male's decorative neck feathers grown during breeding season.

"Birdwatchers spotted a ruff displaying near the marsh."

verb

In card games, to play a trump card because you can't follow the suit led.

"She ruffed the trick with her last spade."

How to use ruff

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA frilly collar (fashion), a type of bird, or a card-game move — three unrelated meanings sharing one spelling.

Easily confused with

rough →

Word forms

ruffed past tense, ruffed past tense, ruffed past tense, ruffs plural, ruffs plural, ruffs plural, ruffs singular, ruffs singular, ruffs singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The portrait showed a nobleman in a starched white _____.

Etymology

Likely a shortened form of "ruffle," possibly influenced by "rough."

Synonyms

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trump

Related words

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Rhymes for ruff

buff duff muff tuff cuff puff huff guff stuff bluff gruff fluff

See all rhymes for ruff →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ruff” mean?

The word “ruff” means a stiff, frilled collar worn around the neck, especially in 16th and 17th century fashion. In plain terms, a frilly collar (fashion), a type of bird, or a card-game move — three unrelated meanings sharing one spelling.

How do you pronounce “ruff”?

“Ruff” is pronounced ruhf (/ɹəf/ in IPA).

How do you use “ruff” in a sentence?

Here is “ruff” used in a sentence: “The portrait showed a nobleman in a starched white ruff.”

What is another word for “ruff”?

Words with a similar meaning to “ruff” include trump.

What part of speech is “ruff”?

Depending on how it is used, “ruff” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “ruff” have?

“Ruff” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a stiff, frilled collar worn around the neck, especially in 16th and 17th century fashion.

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Words that end with F

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