Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RUFF, v 1, n.1 Also riff; and freq. form ruffle. Dim. ruffie. [rʌf]
I. v. 1. To beat (a drum), to beat a ruff or roll upon (a drum) (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff., Fif. 1968); of a drum: to sound a roll. Ppl.n. ruff(l)ing, ppl.adj. ruffin, vibrating, resounding.Sc. 1721 R. Wodrow Sufferings iii. vi. s. 5:
Two Drums were ready on each Hand to ruffle as Major White should order them. . . . He was interrupted by the Ruffling of the Drums.Sc. 1756 Session Papers, Fergusson v. Leitch (5 July) 14:
He saw them stop at the Cross; the Drum ruff, and Muir read an Advertisement.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 159:
When he rufft his drum.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xiv.:
The drum ruffed, and off set four of them.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie viii.:
Town-drummer Tam, wi's drummie ruffin'.
2. (1) tr. and intr. To applaud or signify approval by stamping the feet (Sc. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc., Fif., ‡wm.Sc. 1968). Vbl.n. ruffin(g), stamping, applause.n.Sc. 1789 W. Fraser Chiefs of Grant (1883) II. 503:
Ruffing with their feet — a very unusual mode of applause in courts of justice.Gsw. 1822 D. Murray Old College (1926) 256:
The right of Ruffing being now established by the old law of “Use and Wont”, ruffing shall be practised at the conclusion of every classic or portion of classic that shall be read.Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 243:
A' the crood ruffin the explait.Sc. 1828 Letters A. Chalmers (1923) 63:
Oh, you're all such Jacobites there, You'll always ruff for Prince Charlie.Dmf. 1843 Carlyle Life in London (Froude 1884) I. 313:
Ruffing of applausive barristers.Lnk. 1890 J. Coghill Poems 85:
They ruff'd him up — 'twas Teddy Shiel Wha to his feet did get.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) vii.:
The loons riffed an' clappit their hands at this. . . . You never heard sic a riffin' as there was.m.Lth. 1895 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 118:
I wad hae thocht shame to ruff what he said aboot the kirk.
(2) to signify disapproval by stamping or shuffling with the feet, esp. with down, to silence a speaker by making a great noise with the feet (Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.; Bnff., Fif. 1968). Vbl.n. ruffing.Rnf. 1792 J. Robertson Overture 17:
The people . . . became rather troublesome to the Court, by ruffing with their feet.Per. 1830 Perthshire Advert. (7 Oct.):
(Here the gentleman was interrupted by hissing, ruffing, and loud cries of “vote, vote, vote!”) — They very much mistook him (he said), if they thought that he was to be put down either by their ruffing or their hissing.Abd. 1888 Bon-Accord (10 Dec.) 14:
Interruption and ruffing from students, and a look of anxious inquiry from the prof.Sc. 1890 Scots Mag. (July) 106:
I am sorry to say that twice he was “ruffed down”, and had to draw to a conclusion before he intended.
II. n. 1. Also in Eng., now obs.: the beating of a drum, a drum-roll preceding a proclamation (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Also fig.Sc. 1761 Magopico (1810) 12:
He quaked thro' every joint of him, his teeth beat a ruff.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 232:
A' drummers to come on a ruff.Ayr. 1812 A. Boswell Works (1871) 102:
Quicker than the drum-boy's ruff.
2. A drumming on the floor with the feet to indicate approval or applause (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Mry., Kcd. 1968).Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings (1813) 13:
Anither lilt, now, worth a ruff.Dmf. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 57:
Dumfries, and a' its bonny Lasses, Were drank in magnum-bonum glasses Wi' ruffs and dads!Sc. 1828 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 65:
Howpin that the pit will applaud him wi' a ruff.Dmf. 1830 W. Bennet Traits Sc. Life I. 51:
A simultaneous ruff, or clapping of hands, was awarded the singer.Abd. 1899 Bon-Accord (9 March) 10:
This performance of alternated ruffs and hisses kept up for five minutes.m.Lth. 1895 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 92:
Ye should ha heard the ruff he got.Mry.1 1925:
Gie him a ruffie, lads.
