To ruffle the feathers of
(gcide) | Ruffle \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.
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2. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.
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3. To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by
agitation or commotion.
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The fantastic revelries . . . that so often ruffled
the placid bosom of the Nile. --I. Taylor.
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She smoothed the ruffled seas. --Dryden.
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4. To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
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[the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume. --Tennyson.
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5. (Mil.) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
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6. To discompose; to agitate; to disturb.
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These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind. --Sir W.
Hamilton.
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But, ever after, the small violence done
Rankled in him and ruffled all his heart.
--Tennyson.
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7. To throw into disorder or confusion.
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Where best
He might the ruffled foe infest. --Hudibras.
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8. To throw together in a disorderly manner. [R.]
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I ruffled up falen leaves in heap. --Chapman
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To ruffle the feathers of, to exite the resentment of; to
irritate.
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