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ruffian
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2 ENTRIES FOUND:
  1. ruffian
  2. border ruffian

ruf·fi·an

noun \ˈrə-fē-ən\

Definition of RUFFIAN

: a brutal person : bully
— ruffian adjective
— ruf·fi·an·ism \-ə-ˌni-zəm\ noun
— ruf·fi·an·ly adjective
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Examples of RUFFIAN

  1. <a gang of ruffians preying upon people who ventured into that section of town>

Origin of RUFFIAN

Middle French rufian
First Known Use: 1531

Related to RUFFIAN

Synonyms
bully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, gorilla, homeboy, homey (or homie), hood, hooligan, mobster, mug, plug-ugly, punk, roughneck, rowdy, hoodlum, thug, tough, toughie (also toughy), yob [British], yobbo [British]

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