The Ruffle, subs. phr. (conjurors').—The flourish to a trick at cards: the deck held firmly at the lower end by the left hand is rapidly manipulated by the right hand with a crackling noise.
See Ruffler.
Ruffler (Ruffle, or Ruffling
Roister), subs. (old).—1. Spec.
as in quot. 1565 (in Statue 27
Hen. VIII. = a sham soldier or
sailor): whence (2) a bully, cheat,
or violent or swaggering blackguard
(Awdeley, Harman,
B. E., Coles, Grose). Ruffle
(also ruffler), verb. = (1) to
plunder, to rob: spec. with
menaces and imprecations; and
(2) to swagger, flaunt it, put on
side (q.v.) or be turbulent;
rufflery = violence; ruffered
= boisterous; and ruffle = to
dispute.
c. 1537-50. Old Poem [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 512. There are the Dutch words ruffle (brag), and trick up (ornare).]
1565. Harman, Caveat, 29. Now these Rufflars, the out castes of seruing men, when begginge or crauinge fayles, then they pycke and pylfer, from other inferiour beggeres that they meete by the waye, as Roages, Pallyardes, Mortes, and Doxes. Ibid. A rufflar . . . wretchedly wanders aboute the most shyres of this realme; and with stoute audacyte demaundeth where he thinketh he may be bolde, and circomspecte ynough as he sethe cause to aske charitie.
1579. Mariage of Witt and Wisdome. My man Lobb Is become a jolly ruffler.
1582. Stanihurst, Æneid, iii. But neere ioynctlye brayeth with rufflerye rumboled Ætna.
1593. Shakspeare, Titus And., i. 2. One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons, And ruffle in the Commonwealth of Rome. Ibid. (1605), King Lear, iii. 7. I am your host, With robber's hands, my hospitable favours You should not ruffle thus. Ibid. (1609), Lover's Compl. Sometime a blusterer, that the ruffle knew Of court and city.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Ruffo. . . . Also a ruffling roister or ruffian, a swaggrer.
1600. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, iii. 3. Lady, I cannot ruffle it in red and yellow.
1610. Mirr. for Mag., 473. And what the ruffler spake, the lout took for a verdite, For there the best was worst, worst best regarded. Ibid., 165. To Britain over seas from Rome went I, To quaile the Picts, that ruffled in that ile.
1611. Middleton, Roaring Girl [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), vi. 108]. Brother to this upright man, flesh and blood, ruffling Tear-cat is my name; and a ruffler is my stile, my title, my profession.
1614. Fletcher, Wit without Money, v. 3. Can I not go about . . . But such companions as you must ruffle me.
1641. Milton, Ref. in Eng., i. Revil'd and ruffl'd by an insulting . . . Prelate.
1712. Steele, Spectator, 132. Our company was so far from being soured by this little ruffle that Ephraim and he took particular delight in being agreeable to each other for the future.
1818. Scott, Midlothian, xxv. A gude fellow that has been but a twelvemonth on the lay, be he ruffler or padder. Ibid. (1821), Kenilworth, xiii. He looked like a gay ruffling serving-man.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, xvi. Oh, what a beast is a niggardly ruffler, Nabbing—grabbing all for himself.
1890. Answers, 27 Dec. In this fashion I ruffled like a prince for six years on a regular income of nothing per annum.
Ruffmans, subs. (Old Cant).—A
hedge: cf. quot. 1610 (Harman,
B. E., Hall, Grose).
1565. Harman, Caveat, 86. We wyll fylche some duddes of the Ruffe-*mans.
1608. Dekker, The Beggars' Curse [Grosart, Works, iii. 203]. If we mawnd Pannam, lap, or Ruff-peck, Or poplars of yarum: he cuts, bing to the Ruffmans. Ibid. (1612), O, per se O [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 12]. We did creepe, and plant in ruffe-mans low.
