Gruff, disagreeable, sarcastic remarks. Thackeray.

-- Gruff"ly, adv. -- Gruff"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here to-morrow with his best ruff on. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

His gravity is much lessened since the late proclamation came out against ruffs; . . . they were come to that height of excess herein, that twenty shillings were used to be paid for starching of a ruff. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Something formed with plaits or flutings, like the collar of this name. [ 1913 Webster ]

I reared this flower; . . .
Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I spread. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An exhibition of pride or haughtiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

How many princes . . . in the ruff of all their glory, have been taken down from the head of a conquering army to the wheel of the victor's chariot! L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Wanton or tumultuous procedure or conduct. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To ruffle it out in a riotous ruff. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mil.) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; a ruffle. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mach.) A collar on a shaft ot other piece to prevent endwise motion. See Illust. of Collar. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Zool.) A set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers round, or on, the neck of a bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Zool.) (a) A limicoline bird of Europe and Asia (Pavoncella pugnax, syn. Philomachus pugnax) allied to the sandpipers. The males during the breeding season have a large ruff of erectile feathers, variable in their colors, on the neck, and yellowish naked tubercles on the face. They are polygamous, and are noted for their pugnacity in the breeding season. The female is called reeve, or rheeve. (b) A variety of the domestic pigeon, having a ruff of its neck. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Hawking) To hit, as the prey, without fixing it. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Card Playing) To play a trump card at bridge; as, he ruffed his partner's ace. [ PJC ]

Ruffed grouse (Zool.), a North American grouse (Bonasa umbellus) common in the wooded districts of the Northern United States. The male has a ruff of brown or black feathers on each side of the neck, and is noted for the loud drumming sound he makes during the breeding season. Called also tippet grouse, partridge, birch partridge, pheasant, drummer, and white-flesher. --
ruffed lemur (Zool.), a species of lemur (lemur varius) having a conspicuous ruff on the sides of the head. Its color is varied with black and white. Called also ruffed maucaco. [ 1913 Webster ]

He [ her husband ] is no sooner abroad than she is instantly at home, reveling with her ruffians. Bp. Reynolds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A boisterous, cruel, brutal fellow; a desperate fellow ready for murderous or cruel deeds; a cutthroat. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wilt thou on thy deathbed play the ruffian? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: A tough, lawless or bullying person. [ 1913 Webster ]

His ruffin rainment all was stained with blood. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by agitation or commotion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fantastic revelries . . . that so often ruffled the placid bosom of the Nile. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

She smoothed the ruffled seas. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To erect in a ruff, as feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ the swan ] ruffles her pure cold plume. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mil.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To discompose; to agitate; to disturb. [ 1913 Webster ]

These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

But, ever after, the small violence done
Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To throw into disorder or confusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where best
He might the ruffled foe infest. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To throw together in a disorderly manner. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I ruffled up falen leaves in heap. Chapman [ 1913 Webster ]

To ruffle the feathers of, to exite the resentment of; to irritate. [ 1913 Webster ]

The night comes on, and the bleak winds
Do sorely ruffle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter. [ 1913 Webster ]

On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined,
Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger. [ 1913 Webster ]

They would ruffle with jurors. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state of being ruffled or disturbed; disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind in a ruffle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mil.) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; -- called also ruff. H. L. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur. See Ootheca. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ruffle of a boot, the top turned down, and scalloped or plaited. Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Assaults, if not murders, done at his own doors by that crew of rufflers. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which ruffles; specifically, a sewing machine attachment for making ruffles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Truffle worm (Zool.), the larva of a fly of the genus Leiodes, injurious to truffles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Calm and unruffled as a summer's sea. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]