RUFF, noun 1. A piece of plaited linen worn by females around the neck. 2. Something puckered or plaited. 3. A small fish, a species of Perca. 4. A bird of the genus Tringa, with a tuft of feathers around the neck of the male, whence the name. The female is called reeve. 5. A state of roughness. obsolete 6. Pride; elevation; as princes in the ruff of all their glory. 7. A particular species of pigeon. 8. At cards, the act of winning the trick by trumping the cards of another suit. RUFF, verb transitive 1. To ruffle; to disorder. 2. To trump any other suit of cards at whist.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI