---
title: "Ruff"
description: "A ruff is a starched, pleated collar of linen or lace set in figure-of-eight folds, worn around 1560–1640."
type: Glossary
url: https://teazle.art/glossary/ruff
published: 2026-10-14
updated: 2026-10-14
author: "The Teazle editors"
---

# Ruff

*A ruff is a starched, pleated collar of linen or lace set in figure-of-eight folds, worn around 1560–1640.*

Ruffs began as a frill at the neck of the shirt and grew into separate collars of starched linen or lace, set with heated irons into rows of folds. The largest needed a wire support underneath. Federico de Vinciolo, whose lace pattern book is discussed on Teazle, is recorded as holding a privilege for making ruffs in France.


## Sources

1. [Ruff (AAT 300210072)](http://vocab.getty.edu/page/aat/300210072). Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus
2. [Ruff (Q653053)](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q653053). Wikidata

Canonical: https://teazle.art/glossary/ruff