Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ruffian"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ruffian \Ruf"fian\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F. rufien, OF. ruffen,
ruffian, pimp. libertine, ake; 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 urbulent.]
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? --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ruffian \Ruf"fian\, a.
brutal; cruel; savagely boisterous; murderous; as, ruffian
rage.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ruffian \Ruf"fian\, v. i.
To play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult. [R.] --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
ruffian
n : a cruel and brutal fellow [syn: {bully}, {tough}, {hooligan},
{roughneck}, {rowdy}, {yob}, {yobo}, {yobbo}]
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