Hypertext Webster Gateway: "blackguard"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Blackguard \Black"guard`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blackguarded};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Blackguarding}.]
To revile or abuse in scurrilous language. --Southey.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Blackguard \Black"guard\, a.
Scurrilous; abusive; low; worthless; vicious; as, blackguard
language.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Blackguard \Black"guard\, n. [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.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
blackguard
n : someone who is morally reprehensible; "you dirty dog" [syn:
{cad}, {bounder}, {dog}, {hound}, {heel}]
v 1: subject to laughter or ridicule: "The satirists ridiculed
the plans for a new opera house"; "The students poked
fun at the inexperienced teacher" [syn: {ridicule}, {guy},
{laugh at}, {jest at}, {rib}, {make fun}, {poke fun}]
2: use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused
the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry
mother shouted at the teacher" [syn: {abuse}, {clapperclaw},
{shout}]
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