ruff
UK[rʌf]US[rʌf]
n
A projecting starched frill worn around the neck, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries.
n
A natural collar of feathers or hair around the neck of a bird or mammal.
n
A common Eurasian shorebird with a distinctive black and white chest pattern in the breeding male.
v
In card games, to play a trump card when unable to follow suit.
Etymology
The word 'ruff' for the neckwear emerged in the early 16th century, likely a shortened and altered form of 'ruffle', which itself is of Germanic origin, possibly imitative of the sound of rustling fabric or the disordered appearance. The ornithological sense, referring to the bird, is first recorded later in the same century and is believed to be directly imitative of the bird's call. The card-playing term 'ruff' is a different word altogether, an alteration of the French 'rogue' (to boast), which passed into English as 'ruff' meaning to trump. These homographs converged in spelling from distinct sources, linked by notions of prominence, disruption of order, or a boastful display.
Analysis
The word 'ruff' is a simplex word of imitative or onomatopoeic origin, likely meant to evoke the sound or appearance of something rough or puffed out. Its functional role is as a complete lexical root.
Examples
The portrait showed the nobleman wearing an elaborate lace ruff.
The male sandpiper puffed out its colorful ruff during the courtship display.
She was able to ruff with her last heart and win the trick.