Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Brigand"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Brigand \Brig"and\ (br[i^]g"and), n. [F. brigand, OF. brigant
light-armed soldier, fr. LL. brigans light-armed soldier (cf.
It. brigante.) fr. brigare to strive, contend, fr. briga
quarrel; prob. of German origin, and akin to E. break; cf.
Goth. brikan to break, brakja strife. Cf. {Brigue}.]
1. A light-armed, irregular foot soldier. [Obs.]
2. A lawless fellow who lives by plunder; one of a band of
robbers; especially, one of a gang living in mountain
retreats; a highwayman; a freebooter.
Giving them not a little the air of brigands or
banditti. --Jeffery.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
brigand
n : an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band [syn: {bandit}]
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