subs. (old cant).—A handcuff: usually in pl. (GROSE, VAUX).
1826. Old Song, ‘Bobby and His Mary’ [The Universal Songster, iii. 108]. And RUFFLES soon they popped on.
1839. W. H. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard, II. ix. ‘I’ll accommodate you with a pair of RUFFLES,’ and he proceeded to handcuff his captive.
THE RUFFLE, subs. phr. (conjurors’).—The flourish to a trick at cards: the deck held firmly at the lower end by the left hand is rapidly manipulated by the right hand with a crackling noise.
See RUFFLER.
