Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Blackguard
Black′guard
(blăg′gärd)
, Noun.
[
Black
+ guard
.] 1.
The scullions and lower menials of a court, or of a nobleman’s household, who, in a removal from one residence to another, had charge of the kitchen utensils, and being smutted by them, were jocularly called the “black guard”; also, the servants and hangers-on of an army.
[Obs.]
A lousy slave, that . . . rode with the
black guard
in the duke's carriage, 'mongst spits and dripping pans. Webster (1612).
2.
The criminals and vagrants or vagabonds of a town or community, collectively.
[Obs.]
3.
A person of stained or low character, esp. one who uses scurrilous language, or treats others with foul abuse; a scoundrel; a rough.
A man whose manners and sentiments are decidedly below those of his class deserves to be called a
blackguard
. Macaulay.
4.
A vagrant; a bootblack; a gamin.
[Obs.]
Black′guardˊ
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Blackguarded
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blackguarding
.] To revile or abuse in scurrilous language.
Southey.
Black′guard
,Adj.
Scurrilous; abusive; low; worthless; vicious;
as,
. blackguard
language