rowdyish

[ rou-dee-ish ]

adjective

1. like or characteristic of a rowdy.
2. disposed to or characterized by rowdyism.

Other Words From

• rowdy·ish·ly adverb
• rowdy·ish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rowdyish¹

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; rowdy + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

He would simply nod to Ralph, but the old rowdyish swing was gone.

From Project Gutenberg

Turning to the northwest, the dusty road runs on beside the river and beneath the bluffs lined with rowdyish folk, who shout down greetings to their acquaintances and compliments to the ladies, toward the ermita.

From Project Gutenberg

As for the young men, they were chiefly specimens of the vulgar sediment of London life, often shabbily genteel, rowdyish, pale, wearing the unbrushed coat, unshifted linen, and unwashed faces of yesterday, as well as the haggardness of last night's jollity in a gin-shop.

From Project Gutenberg

They had no idea that the crowd about the pavilion was rowdyish.

From Project Gutenberg

Excursion boats, gleaming white, and trimmed with shining brass, lay beside the wharves, and low-lying tugs, sturdy, rowdyish little things, passed by, floating like ducks and pulling like bull-dogs, guiding great two-masted sailing boats and long, low, grimy steamers, with high decks at the ends.

From Project Gutenberg