▪ I. ruche, n.
(ruːʃ, F. ryʃ)
Also rouche.
[a. F. ruche († rouche, rusche), bee-hive, and (in allusion to the plaits of a straw hive) frill, etc.]
A frill or quilling of some light material, as ribbon, gauze, or lace, used to ornament some part of a garment or head-dress. Also attrib.
| a 1827 Souvenir I. 127/3 (Stanf.). A bonnet..with a blue and white ruche of gauze at the edge. 1862 Engl. Wom. Dom. Mag. IV. 236/1 The front of the body..was trimmed with white satin ruches laid over white blonde. 1881 Truth 31 March 446/1 The inevitable ruche of Mechlin lace makes the dress becoming to the neck. 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlewk. 427/2 For silk the Ruche flutings should measure from half inch, to 1 inch. |
| transf. 1865 Mrs. Beeton Dict. Cookery 210 Place a paper ruche on the bone. |
| β 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Rouche,..a goffered quilling of net, ribbon, blonde, or any other material. 1864 Daily Tel. 11 March, Her Royal Highness..wore a white satin dress with rouches of tulle. |
Hence
ruche v.1, to trim with a ruche.
| 1892 Daily News 8 March 2/1 A black moiré silk was ruched with pink round the border of the skirt. |
▪ II. † ruche (ruchche), v.2 Obs. Var. of
rich v.
2| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 101 Þay her tramme ruchen, Cachen vp þe crossayl, cables þay fasten. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 303 Þe renk on his rounce hym ruched in his sadel. Ibid. 367 He ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre. |