1. An external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal
   "The male lion's mane is an impressive ruff";
   - frill
    
2. A high tight collar
   "The Elizabethan costume included an elaborate neck ruff made of starched linen";
   - choker, ruffle, neck ruff
    
3. Common Eurasian sandpiper; the male has an erectile neck ruff in breeding season
   "The male ruff displayed its colourful breeding plumage to attract females";
   - Philomachus pugnax
    
4. (card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit
   "His ruff of the ace secured the game";
   - trumping
    
5. An alternative name for ruffe, a small freshwater European perch

1. (card game) play a trump
   "She ruffed the ace and won the trick";
   - trump

Sounds like: h, ruff

Derived forms: ruffed, ruffs, ruffing

Type of: collar, external body part, go, move, neckband, play, sandpiper, turn

Part of: bridge, genus Philomachus, Philomachus

Encyclopedia: Ruff, Rugged & Raw