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ruffianmore about ruffian

ruffian


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ruffian  \Ruf"fian\  (?  or  ?;  277),  n.  [F.  rufien  OF  ruffen, 
  ruffian,  pimp.  libertine,  ake;  cf  pr  &  Sp  rufian,  It 
  ruffiano;  all  perhaps  of  German  or  Dutch  origin;  cf  G. 
  raufen  to  pluck,  scuffle,  fight,  OD  roffen  to  pander.  Cf 
  Ruffle  to  grow  urbulent.] 
  1.  A  pimp;  a  pander;  also  a  paramour.  [Obs.] 
 
  he  [her  husband]  is  no  sooner  abroad  than  she  is 
  instantly  at  home,  reveling  with  her  ruffians.  --Bp. 
  Reynolds. 
 
  2.  A  boisterous,  cruel,  brutal  fellow;  a  desperate  fellow 
  ready  for  murderous  or  cruel  deeds;  a  cutthroat. 
 
  Wilt  thou  on  thy  deathbed  play  the  ruffian?  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ruffian  \Ruf"fian\,  a. 
  brutal;  cruel;  savagely  boisterous;  murderous;  as  ruffian 
  rage. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ruffian  \Ruf"fian\,  v.  i. 
  To  play  the  ruffian;  to  rage;  to  raise  tumult.  [R.]  --Shak. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ruffian 
  n  :  a  cruel  and  brutal  fellow  [syn:  {bully},  {tough},  {hooligan}, 
  {roughneck},  {rowdy},  {yob},  {yobo},  {yobbo}] 




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