Female ruff (5)
I believe the answer is:
reeve
'female ruff' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for reeve that I've seen before include "Anglo-Saxon magistrate - female bird - pass (a rope) through a hole" , "Bailiff, steward" , "Scottish bailiff" , "High official" , "Chief magistrate (hist.); pass (rope) through hole" .)