ruffian Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a cruel and brutal fellow
    yobo; tough; bully; roughneck; hooligan; rowdy; yob; yobbo.

WordNet

Ruf"fian noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  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.
Ruf"fian adjective
Definitions
  1. brutal; cruel; savagely boisterous; murderous; as, ruffian rage.
Ruf"fian intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult. R. Shak.

Webster 1913