noun / verb
ruff
Playing a trump card when unable to follow suit.
With no hearts left, she ruffs with a low trump.
Etymology
The trump-playing term comes through an older French card-game name. Its deeper origin is uncertain, not the neck-ruff word.
More examples
- His ruff wins the trick because he has no clubs.
- I cannot ruff while I still have a card in the suit led.
- She ruffed the diamond lead with her last trump.
Forms
ruff · ruffs · ruffed · ruffing
Similar words
- trump
- Also names the card or suit, not just the play.