Defn: A set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers round, or on, the neck of a bird.
8. (Zoöl.) (a) A limicoline bird of Europe and Asia (Pavoncella, or Philommachus, pugnax) allied to the sandpipers. The males during the breeding season have a large ruff of erectile feathers, variable in their colors, on the neck, and yellowish naked tubercles on the face. They are polygamous, and are noted for their pugnacity in the breeding season. The female is called reeve, or rheeve. (b) A variety of the domestic pigeon, having a ruff of its neck.
RUFF
Ruff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ruffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ruffing.]
1. To ruffle; to disorder. Spenser.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
3. (Hawking)
Defn: To hit, as the prey, without fixing it.
RUFF; RUFFE
Ruff, Ruffe, n. Etym: [OE. ruffe.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small freshwater European perch (Acerina vulgaris); — called also pope, blacktail, and stone, or striped, perch.