ruffian

[ ruhf-ee-uhn, ruhf-yuhn ]

noun

1. a tough, lawless person; roughneck; bully.

   Synonyms: blackguard, rogue, knave, tough, brute

adjective

1. Also ruffi·an·ly. tough; lawless; brutal.

ruffian

/ ˈrʌfɪən /

noun

1. a violent or lawless person; hoodlum or villain

Derived Forms

• ˈruffianly, adjective
• ˈruffianism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruffian¹

1525–35; < Middle French < Italian ruffiano, perhaps < Langobardic *hruf scurf + Italian -ano -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruffian¹

C16: from Old French rufien , from Italian ruffiano , perhaps related to Langobardic hruf scurf, scabbiness

Example Sentences

In America, he's a ruffian who hunts with a bow and arrow.

From Salon

The remains of Ruffian, the Hall of Fame racehorse whose triumphant run in the 1970s was tragically cut short by an injury in a notorious race that led to her being euthanized, were reburied on Thursday in Kentucky, the filly’s birthplace.

From New York Times

Ruffian is considered perhaps the greatest female thoroughbred in history and went undefeated in 10 starts, setting stakes or track records in most of them.

From New York Times

Ruffian shattered her right front ankle in the race, and she was later put down by injection and buried in Belmont’s infield, 70 yards beyond the finish line.

From New York Times

The remains of Ruffian, the Hall of Fame racehorse whose triumphant run in the 1970s was tragically cut short by an injury in a notorious race that led to her being euthanized, was reburied on Thursday in Kentucky, the filly’s birthplace.

From New York Times

Related Words

• delinquent
• goon