ruff
ruff Lexical Profile
ruff Game Scores & Validity
• interjection
Used to represent the short, harsh barking sound of a dog.
""Ruff! Ruff!" the terrier barked excitedly as the mail carrier approached the gate."
• noun
A projecting, heavily starched, and pleated collar worn around the neck by men and women in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
"The Renaissance portrait vividly depicted Queen Elizabeth I wearing an elaborate lace ruff."
A Eurasian wading bird of the sandpiper family (Calidris pugnax), the male of which develops a distinctive collar of feathers and ear tufts during the breeding season.
"Birdwatchers gathered at the marsh, hoping to spot a male ruff performing its elaborate courtship display."
The act of playing a trump card to a trick when one cannot follow suit in certain card games.
"Her timely ruff of the spade suit secured the final trick for their team."
• verb
To play a trump card in a trick when unable to follow suit in a card game.
"He decided to ruff the opening lead to regain control of the hand."
• Rhymes for ruff
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The noun referring to a collar is an early 16th-century clipping of 'ruffle'. The bird's name derives from the resemblance of the male's breeding plumage to this historical collar. The card game sense originated from the Old French 'rofe', a card game. As a dog's bark, it is onomatopoeic.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.