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.
Ruffle, -ell, -ill, n.2 Also: -ulle; rufl(e; rouffill. [e.m.E. ruffle tumult, contention, skirmish (1534), f. ruffle v., ‘of obscure origin’ (OED). Cf. Ruffle,n.1]
1. An armed encounter; a skirmish.a1578 Pitsc. (1728) 37.
He gathered a great company … to be revenged upon the earl … , deviser of the foresaid ruffle c1590 Fowler II 139/16.
The Venetiens … never suffered that there querrells suld come to any ruffulle of armes 1678 Brodie Diary 393.
That conventicls wer ryf in the south and west, but ther had bein no rufl 1685 Erskine Diary 127.
People were … unwilling to stir untill the first ruffle was past 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 505.
Relateing to a ruffell betwixt him and Major Simervell
2. A set-back; a defeat.1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 249.
Horsmen and fourscoir suddartis past … to Striueling, and thair did to … thair enemies … sa greit ane ruffill as thai did, and returnit agane a1578 Pitsc. II 201/1.
The regent inveronit the toune round about and tuik of the principall thives fourtie persons and hangit xix of thame and the rest brocht to Edinburgh and that was the grettest ruffell that evir the thives of Liddisdaill sufferit 1594 Charteris Wall. Pref. 169.
[Bruce] wrocht vnto them mony greit & heynous ruffillis … and at last did … chase them out of Scotland c1610 Melville Mem. 242.
They that wes within the castell of Stirling persauit the gret rouffill and schame they wald resaue 1615 Bk. Mackay 127.
That the Erll of Caithness had done a ruffle to McKy a1651 Calderwood VII 344.
[The king's] rancor for the ruffles he had received of the Kirk of Scotland 1678 Brodie Diary 398.
Befor he got the rufl from the Lord Huntlie, he [etc.] 1679 Lauderdale P. III 169. a1686 Turner Mem. 36.
Montrosse … met with a rufle neere Drumfreis 1689 Reg. Privy C. XIV 82.
Major Generall McKayes earlie appearance in the feild after the ruffle at Killiechrankie hade defeat their expectations 1715 Spottiswoode Misc. II 449.
