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ruffian

Pronunciation: /ˈrʌfɪən/

Translate ruffian | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of ruffian

noun

  • a violent person, especially one involved in crime.

Derivatives

ruffianism

noun

ruffianly

adverb

Origin:

late 15th century: from Old French ruffian, from Italian ruffiano, perhaps from dialect rofia 'scab, scurf', of Germanic origin

ruffian in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of ruffian in the US English dictionary

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