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Origin and history of ruff

ruff(n.1)

kind of large band or frill, stiffly starched, 1520s, originally in reference to sleeves (of collars, from 1550s), probably a shortened form of ruffle (n.). They were especially common in the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Extended to distinctive sets of feathers on the necks of birds from 1690s.

ruff(v.)

in cards, "trump when unable to follow suit," 1760, from the card game ruff (see ruff (n.2)). Related: Ruffed; ruffing.

ruff(n.2)

in card-playing, "act of trumping when a player has no cards of the suit led," by 1856, from ruff (v.) "trump when unable to follow suit" (1760), from the name of the old game of ruff (1580s), from French roffle, earlier romfle (early 15c.), from Italian ronfa, which is perhaps a corruption of trionfo "triumph" (from French; compare trump (n.1)). The old game, a predecessor of whist, was in vogue c. 1590-1630. 

also from 1856

Entries linking to ruff

ruffle(n.)

"ornamental frill of textile material drawn up at one end in gathers or plaits," 1707, from ruffle (v.). The sense of "disturbance, perturbation" is by 1704.

trump(n.1)

"playing-card of a suit ranking above others in a particular game," 1520s, an alteration or corruption of triumph (n.). Also trumps. For the U.S. president, see Trumpism.

In French la triomphe as the name of a card game is very frequent from late 15c. (Villon, Rabelais), it also is attested in Medieval Latin as triumphus. Trumps and games based on them appear to be ancient, and national variants are played across Europe.

The early uses of the word seem to apply to any sort of game with trumps; in 16c. England it was used of a game that grew into whist; in France triomphe was refined into ecarté, a fast-paced game popular in Paris after the restoration.

Figuratively, as "person of surpassing excellence," by 1819. Other figurative phrases from card-playing, current in 19c., include call for trumps as a signal to a partner in whist; to be put to one's trumps, "reduced to the last expedient."

Trump-card "a trump, one of the suit of cards which outranks the others in a game" is attested by 1822 (figurative); as "card turned up after dealing which determines which suit is trumps," it is so called by 1876. Partridge lists trump of the dump as World War I New Zealand military slang for "person in authority in a particular place."

ruffed(adj.)

1580s, of persons, "wearing a ruff;" by 1610s in animal and bird names, "having a ruff" of feathers, etc., from ruff (n.1). The American ruffed grouse is so called by 1782.

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    frieze
    "sculptured horizontal band in architecture," 1560s, from French frise, originally "a ruff," from Medieval Latin frisium...
    slam
    "a winning of all tricks in a card game," used especially in whist, 1650s, earlier the name of a card game (also called ruff...
    crepe
    crape-like fabric," especially white or colored, not the ordinary black for mourning, from French crêpe, Old French crespe "ruff...
    bridge
    [structure that affords passage over a ravine or river] Middle English brigge, from Old English brycge, from Proto-Germanic *brugjo (source also of Old Saxon bruggia, Old Norse bryggja, Old Frisian brigge, Dutch brug, Old High German brucca, German Brücke), from PIE root *bhru "l
    play
    Middle English pleien, from Old English plegan, plegian "move lightly and quickly, occupy or busy oneself, amuse oneself; engage in active exercise; frolic; engage in children's play; make sport of, mock; perform music." It is from Proto-West Germanic *plegōjanan "occupy oneself
    move
    late 13c., meven, in various senses (see below), from Anglo-French mover, Old French movoir "to move, get moving, set out; set in motion; introduce" (Modern French mouvoir), from Latin movere "move, set in motion; remove; disturb" (past participle motus, frequentative motare), fr
    collar
    c. 1300, coler, coller, "neck armor, gorget, something worn about the neck," from Old French coler "neck, collar" (12c., Modern French collier), from Latin collare "necklace, band or chain for the neck," from collum "the neck," from PIE *kwol-o- "neck" (source also of Old Norse a
    go
    Old English gan "to advance, walk; depart, go away; happen, take place; conquer; observe, practice, exercise," from West Germanic *gaian (source also of Old Saxon, Old Frisian gan, Middle Dutch gaen, Dutch gaan, Old High German gan, German gehen), from PIE root *ghē- "to release,
    runt
    c. 1500, "old or decayed tree stump" (Douglas), a provincial word of unknown origin. The meaning was extended to "small ox or cow," especially of the breeds characteristic of Wales and the Scottish Highlands (1540s, if indeed this is the same word), and by 1610s generally to unde
    turn
    late Old English turnian "to rotate, revolve," in part also from Old French torner "to turn away or around; draw aside, cause to turn; change, transform; turn on a lathe" (Modern French tourner), both from Latin tornare "to polish, round off, fashion, turn on a lathe," from tornu

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