A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1438, 1500-1512, 1637-1700
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Ruffle, Rif(f)le, n.1 Also: ruffel(l, -il(l; (rafle). [Ruf(f)le v.]
1. A scratch or abrasion. b. fig. Hurt; superficial injury or damage. ?1438 Alex. ii 9449.
The wound was lytill and bot ane ruffell 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1822) 237/2.
When my wounds are closing, a little riffle [1664 rifle, 1894 ruffle] causeth them to bleed afreshb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 332.
I wald haif ridden him to Rome with raip in his heid Wer not ruffill of my renoune and rumour of pepill
2. An ornamental gathering of lace or the like at the wrist or neck of a garment. 1678 Red Bk. Grandtully II 244.
Two pair ruffles of the best lane that could be had 1688 Douglas Bequest 24 July.
Ruffels 1697 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 262.
To muslin to her ruffils 1698 Edinburgh Testaments LXXX 301b.
Gravats and stoks ane pair of rafles [etc.] 1700 Old Ross-shire I 144.
An el of Rollan … maeking neck ruffels
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"Ruffle n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ruffle_n_1>
