subs. (old).—‘An old-fashioned double band.’—B. E. (c. 1696).
2. (old).—A court card: hence TO RUFF = to trump. [RUFF = a game similar to whist, ‘in which the greatest sorte of sute carrieth away the game.’—PEELE, 1, 211, note.] See TRUMP.
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Ronfar. A game at cardes called RUFFE or trump.
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Ronfle. Hand-RUFF at cards.
1837. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, xxxv. Miss Bolo would inquire … why Mr. Pickwick had … RUFFED the spade, or finessed the heart.
3. (old).—See quots.
1592. G. HARVEY, Four Letters. He … in the RUFF of his greatest jollity was fain to cry M. Churchyard a mercy to print.
1610. Mirror for Magistrates, 607.
| And in the RUFFE of his felicitie | |
| Prickt with ambition, he began disdaine | |
| His bastard lord’s vsurp’d authoritie. |
4. (racing).—RUFF’S Guide to the Turf.
THE WOODEN RUFF, subs. phr. (old).—The pillory.
