Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) a girl, a woman [SE ruffle, as adorning a dress].

1908		‘O. Henry’ ‘The Man Higher Up’ in Gentle Grafter (1915) 142: It’s part of my business [...] to play up to the ruffles when I want to make a riffle as Raffles.
1922		Wash. Times (DC) 21 Aug. 4/4: It’s tough the way a ruffle will respond to the superficial little handsprings of some past master at deception and pass up some likely lad.

2. (gay) the passive partner in a lesbian relationship [? rufus n. (1)].

1970

J.P. Stanley ‘Homosexual Sl.’ in AS XLV:1/2 58: ruffle n Passive partner in a lesbian relationship.