ruff
pronunciation
How to pronounce ruff in British English:
UK [rʌf]
How to pronounce ruff in American English:
US [rʌf]
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- Noun:
- a high tight collar
- common Eurasian sandpiper; male has an erectile ruff in breeding season
- the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit
-
- Verb:
- play a trump
Word Origin
- ruff (n.)
- kind of large collar, stiffly starched, especially common in the seventeenth century, 1520s, originally in reference to sleeves (of collars, from 1550s), probably a shortened form of ruffle. Card-playing sense is a separate word, from a former game of that name (1580s), from Middle French roffle, earlier romfle (early 15c.), from Italian ronfa, perhaps a corruption of trionfo "triumph" (from French; compare trump). The game was in vogue c. 1590-1630.
- ruff (v.)
- in cards, 1760, from ruff (n.). Related: Ruffed; ruffing.
Example
- 1. Classic black large bowknot ruff ......
- 2. What do you think of percy 's ruff ?
- 3. They 're crossing ruff now .
- 4. My aurora has ben running pretty ruff lately .
- 5. Ruff feeding in the paddy field .