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Cuff vs Ruff - What's the difference?

cuff | ruff |

In obsolete terms the difference between cuff and ruff

is that cuff is glove; mitten while ruff is wanton or tumultuous procedure or conduct.

As an adjective ruff is

an alternative spelling of lang=en.

As an interjection ruff is

the bark of a dog; woof.

cuff

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) cuffe, .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) glove; mitten.
  • The end of a shirt sleeve that covers the wrist.
  • The end of a pants leg, folded up.
    • Related terms
    * cufflinks * turnup * off-the-cuff

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To furnish with cuffs.
  • To handcuff.

    • Etymology 2

    1520, “to hit”, apparently of (etyl) origin, from (etyl) . More at (l), (l), (l).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.
  • * Dryden
    • They with their quills did all the hurt they could, / And cuffed the tender chickens from their food.
  • To fight; to scuffle; to box.
  • * Dryden
    • While the peers cuff to make the rabble sport.
  • To buffet.
  • * Tennyson
    • cuffed by the gale

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.
  • * Spenser
    • Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies; / Who well it wards, and quitten cuff with cuff.
  • * Hudibras
    • Many a bitter kick and cuff .

    ruff

    English

    Etymology 1

    A shortening of (ruffle)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A gregarious, medium-sized wading bird of Eurasia, Philomachus pugnax .
  • # A male of the species. (The female is a reeve).
  • a small freshwater fish; a pope.
  • A circular frill or ruffle on a garment, especially a starched, fluted frill at the neck in Elizabethan and Jacobean England.
  • *
  • Anything formed with plaits or flutings, like the frill.
  • * (rfdate) Alexander Pope
    • I reared this flower; / Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I spread.
  • (obsolete) An exhibition of pride or haughtiness.
  • * (rfdate) L'Estrange
    • How many princes in the ruff of all their glory, have been taken down from the head of a conquering army to the wheel of the victor's chariot!
  • (obsolete) Wanton or tumultuous procedure or conduct.
  • * (rfdate) Latimer
    • to ruffle it out in a riotous ruff
  • (military) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruffle.
  • (engineering) A collar on a shaft or other piece to prevent endwise motion.
  • A set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers on or around the neck of a bird.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To ruffle; to disorder.
    • (Spenser)
  • (military) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
  • (hawking) To hit (the prey) without fixing it.

    • Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A card game similar to whist, and the predecessor of it.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (cards) To play a trump card to a trick, other than when trumps were led
    • Synonyms
    *

    Derived terms

    * overruff * underruff

    See also

    *

    Etymology 3

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (colloquial)

    • Etymology 4

    Onomatopoeic. English onomatopoeias

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • The bark of a dog; woof.