Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ruffian
Ruf′fian
(rŭf′yan or rŭf′fĭ-an; 277)
, Noun.
[F.
rufien
, OF. ruffien
, ruffian
, pimp, libertine, rake; 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 turbulent.] 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
? Shakespeare
2.
Hence:
A tough, lawless or bullying person.
Ruf′fian
,Adj.
Brutal; cruel; savagely boisterous; murderous;
as,
. ruffian
rageRuf′fian
,Verb.
I.
To play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult.
[R.]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ruffian
RUF'FIAN
, n.A boisterous, brutal fellow; a fellow ready for any desperate crime; a robber; a cut-throat; a murderer.
RUF'FIAN
,Adj.
RUF'FIAN
,Verb.
I.
Definition 2024
ruffian
ruffian
English
Noun
ruffian (plural ruffians)
- A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful, brutal and unreliable person.
- Shakespeare
- Wilt thou on thy deathbed play the ruffian?
- Shakespeare
- (obsolete) A pimp; a pander.
- (obsolete) A lover; a paramour.
- Bishop Reynolds
- He [her husband] is no sooner abroad than she is instantly at home, revelling with her ruffians.
- Bishop Reynolds
Synonyms
Translations
scoundrel, rascal
Verb
ruffian (third-person singular simple present ruffians, present participle ruffianing, simple past and past participle ruffianed)
- To play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
Adjective
ruffian (comparative more ruffian, superlative most ruffian)
- Brutal; cruel; savagely boisterous; murderous.
- ruffian rage
Anagrams
French
Noun
ruffian m (plural ruffians)
- Alternative spelling of rufian
- 1943, Jean Ray, Malpertuis, 1978 ed., p. 8
- Il n'y a que la fortune pour faire d'un ruffian un honnête homme, soumis aux lois humaines.
- 1943, Jean Ray, Malpertuis, 1978 ed., p. 8