ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ruff

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɹəf// UK //ɹˈʌf// ruff Archaic Informal

n. a stiff, circular collar made of folded fabric that was popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. It can also mean a ring of colored feathers or fur around an animal's neck.

n. a wide, pleated collar of starched linen or lace worn in the late 16th and early 17th centuries; also refers to a fringe of distinctive hair or feathers around the neck of an animal.


SIMPLE

The queen wore a large lace ruff in the portrait.

CONTEXTUAL

Historical dramas often require elaborate costumes, including the stiff ruffs that were fashionable during the Elizabethan era.

COMPLEX

The male bird displays a magnificent ruff of iridescent feathers during the mating season to attract a mate and signal his genetic fitness.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used in historical fashion contexts or ornithological descriptions.

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