Ruf″fle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Ruffled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Ruffling (?).] [From Ruff a plaited collar, a drum beat, a tumult: cf. OD. ruyffelen to wrinkle.] 1. To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
2. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.
3. To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by agitation or commotion.
The fantastic revelries... that so often ruffled the placid bosom of the Nile. I. Taylor.
She smoothed the ruffled seas. Dryden.
4. To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
ruffles her pure cold plume. Tennyson.
5. (Mil.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
6. To discompose; to agitate; to disturb.
These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind. Sir W. Hamilton.
But, ever after, the small violence done
Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart. Tennyson.
7. To throw into disorder or confusion.
Where best
He might the ruffled foe infest. Hudibras.
8. To throw together in a disorderly manner.
I ruffled up falen leaves in heap. Chapman
To ruffle the feathers of, to exite the resentment of; to irritate.