Properly, to wrinkle; to draw or contract into wrinkles, open plaits or folds.

To disorder by disturbing a smooth surface; to make uneven by agitation; as, to ruffle the sea or a lake. She smooth’d the ruffl’d seas.

To discompose by disturbing a calm state of; to agitate; to disturb; as, to ruffle the mind; to ruffle the passions or the temper. It expresses less than fret and vex.

To throw into disorder or confusion. Where best he might the ruffl’d foe invest.

To throw together in a disorderly manner. I ruffl’d up fall’n leaves in heap.

To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.

To grow rough or turbulent; as, the winds ruffle.

To play loosely; to flutter. On his right shoulder his thick mane reclin’d, ruffles at speed and dances in the wind.

To be rough; to jar; to be contention. They would ruffle with jurors. Obs.

A strip of plaited cambric or other fine cloth attached to some border of a garment, as to the wristband or bosom. That at the bosom is sometimes called by the English, a frill .

Disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind or temper in a ruffle.

A particular beat or roll of the drum, used on certain occasions in military affairs, as a mark of respect. Lieutenant Generals have three ruffles, as they pass by the regiment, guardMajor generals have two, brigadiers one

To beat the ruff or roll of the drum.