Nearby Words
noun
1.
a tough, lawless person; roughneck; bully.
adjective
2.
Also, ruf·fi·an·ly. tough; lawless; brutal.
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Ruffians
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Origin:
1525–35; < Middle French < Italian ruffiano, perhaps < Langobardic *hruf scurf + Italian -ano -an
1525–35; < Middle French < Italian ruffiano, perhaps < Langobardic *hruf scurf + Italian -ano -an
Synonyms
1. brute, tough, knave, rogue, blackguard.
1. brute, tough, knave, rogue, blackguard.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Ruffians
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
ruffian
1531, from M.Fr. rufian "a pimp," from It. ruffiano "a pander, pimp," of uncertain origin, perhaps from a Gmc. source related to rough (q.v.), but Du. roffiaan, Ger. Ruffian are said to be from French. Eng. meaning may have been influenced by similarity of sound to rough.
EXPANDThe Romanic words (e.g. M.L. ruffianus, Prov. rufian, Catalan rufia, Sp. rufian) preserve the sense of "protector or owner of whores." For sense evolution in Eng., cf. bully.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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