Ru*elle" (&?;), n. [F. ruelle a narrow street, a lan&?;, ruelle, fr.
rue a street.] A private circle or assembly at a private house; a
circle. [Obs.] Dryden.
Ru*fes"cent (?), a. [L. rufescens, p. pr. of rufescere to become
reddish, fr. rufus red: cf. F. rufescent.] Reddish; tinged with red.
Ruff (?), n. [F. ronfle; cf. It. ronfa, Pg. rufa, rifa.] (Card Playing)
(a) A game similar to whist, and the predecessor of it. Nares.
(b) The act of trumping, especially when one has no card of the suit
led.
Ruff, v. i. & t. (Card Playing) To trump.
Ruff, n. [Of uncertain origin: cf. Icel. r&?;finn rough, uncombed, Pr.
ruf rude, rough, Sp. rufo frizzed, crisp, curled, G. raufen to pluck,
fight, rupfen to pluck, pull, E. rough. √18. Cf. Ruffle to
wrinkle.] 1. A muslin or linen collar plaited, crimped, or fluted, worn
formerly by both sexes, now only by women and children.
Here to-morrow with his best ruff on.
Shak.
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.
2. Something formed with plaits or flutings, like the collar of this
name.
I reared this flower; . . . Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I
spread.
Pope.