Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a justice of the peace; thus ruffianlike adj.

1590		Book of Sir Thomas Moore facs. (S) (1911) I viii: Methinkes this strange and Ruffianlike disguise, fits not the follower of a secretarie.
1641		R. Brome Jovial Crew II i: Toure out with your Glaziers, I swear by the Ruffin, / That we are assaulted by a queer Cuffin.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Ruffin, a Justice of the peace.
1723		C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 110: The intended Milch-Cow he had in his View, was our amorous Ruffian.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.