Ruf·fle v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ruffled p. pr. & vb. n. Ruffling ]
  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.
     [the swan] 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. [R.]
     I ruffled up falen leaves in heap.   --Chapman
  To ruffle the feathers of, to exite the resentment of; to irritate.
  ruffled
       adj 1: shaken into waves or undulations as by wind; "the rippled
              surface of the pond"; "with ruffled flags flying"
              [syn: rippled]
       2: having decorative ruffles or frills [syn: frilled, frilly]