Ruff
/rʌf/noun
A stiff circular collar worn around the neck, or a small wading bird with a distinctive neck ruff.
Did you know?The clothing ruff is named after the bird’s neck feathers, showing how a tiny natural detail became a status symbol in Renaissance fashion.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
ruffe
“A frill or gathered band, especially around the neck.”
Middle English
English
ruff
“The bird now called the ruff, named for its neck feathers.”
Old English
English
hrūf
“A scab, crust, or rough covering.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hrubô
“A crust, scab, or rough surface.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kreup-
“To bend, break, or make rough/crusted.”
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