Ruffling

Once there, she's greeted by sardonic Englishman Mr. Dean (David Farrar), who takes great delight in ruffling Sister Clodagh's habit. ❋ John Farr (2010)

The oxen shuffled their feet a little and looked sidelong at the cottage, the chickens, a curtain ruffling in the breeze in Ramona's entryway. ❋ Unknown (2003)

He would talk to himself in English, ruffling his hands through his hair: "And then, at three o'clock I must go with Andrey Vassilievitch ..." or "I wonder whether she'll mind if I ask --" He had a large briar pipe at which he puffed furiously, but could not smoke without an endless procession of matches that afterwards littered the floor around him. ❋ Hugh Walpole (1912)

That her present lover was not a man to be trifled with, she clearly saw; and bitterly resolved that when he returned to her, she would run no risk of again ruffling the plumes of her "tasselled gentle". ❋ Unknown (1845)

Besides the heart and the weakness of your opponent, you have still another chance, in ruffling his temper; which, in the course of a long conversation, you will have a fair opportunity of trying; and if – for philosophers will sometimes grow warm in the defence of truth – if he should grow absolutely angry, you will in the same proportion grow calm, and wonder at his rage, though you well know it has been created by your own provocation. ❋ Unknown (1798)

You see, you must get down beneath the gentleman or would-be gentleman-farmer, down to the man who never conceived the idea of ruffling it with gentlefolk. ❋ Harold Begbie (1900)

And when that political class gets their feathers ruffled, you want to look and see who's doing the "ruffling" and get behind that man or woman. ❋ Randy Smith (2005)

Instead of the gentler influence, I find only descriptions of swashbucklers, lackeys and bottlewashers, "ruffling" it in imitation of their masters. ❋ Lieut.-Col. B. Granville Baker (N/A)

The process is known as "ruffling," and, until now, researchers regarded the formation of these ruffles as absolutely essential for bacterial entry. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Zeus is her 4 ½-year-old Congo African grey parrot, who is ruffling his feathers to stretch his cooped-up, clipped wings. ❋ Nancy Ruhling (2011)

Zeus is her 4 ½-year-old Congo African grey parrot, who is ruffling his feathers to stretch his cooped-up, clipped wings. ❋ Nancy Ruhling (2011)

Tucks and insets of lace are more taylored than frills and ruffling. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Even Baker's decision to hire an education liaison in his office to advise him on potential funding sources is ruffling elected officials whose support he will need. ❋ Miranda S. Spivack (2011)

She scratched with the plain of her finger, ruffling wild bushy wings, letting her pinky knock at the blue air. ❋ Ivan R. (2011)

The air on the wrought-iron balcony was brisk, the wind ruffling my hair. ❋ Jill Myles (2011)