We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RUFFLE, v. Sc. usage: to pillage, plunder, loot.Sc. 1700 W. McFarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) II. 209:
The gift of Caldwells Estate was given to Gen. Dalziell who ruffled the house and now stands ruinous.
Sc. 1746 Lyon in Mourning (S.H.S.) II. 207:
Collonel Leighton ordered immediately this woman to be seized and her house ruffled.

[Cf. Mid.Eng. ruffle, to ransack. But the word may conceivably be a variant of †riffle, to rifle.]

22713

snd

Hide Advanced Search

Browse SND:

    Loading...

Share: