ruffian n.1
an assassin, a (murderous) thug; a bouncer for a brothel; occas. as adj.; thus ruffianous adj.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Institucion of a Gentleman (1st edn) C iii: A man of most noughty and Ruffianous life. | |
| Damon and Pithias (1571) Eiiii: He is but a tame Ruffian, That can swere by his flaske [...] and Gods precious lady: And yet he will be beaten with a faggot stick. | |
| Institucion of a Gentleman 12: The poor seruing man when he playeth the varlet he is called a Ruffian, or a Ruffynly knaue. | |
| Three Ladies of London II: Enter Fraud with a Sword and a Buckler like a Ruffian. | |
| Pierce’s Supererogation 137: Huff, Ruff, and Snuffe, the three tame ruffians of the Church. | |
| Belman of London H: [The] cony being trayned home to a lodging, where he falles to Nibling; in comes a Ruffian with a drawne rapier, calles the Punck (as she is) damned whore, askes what Rogue that is, and what he does with his wife. | |
| Widow’s Tears II i: Profane ruffians, squires to bawds and strumpets. | |
| Counter Scuffle A3: Twas ill that men of sober dyet [...] Were plac’d with Ruffins, that to ryot Were giuen. | |
 | Adventures 2: Ruffian Pandors, by hopefull youth and prodigall gallants, are now clothed, Coatched, and richly rewarded. | |
| Lady’s Trial V i: Ruffian, out of my doors! thou comest to rob me. | |
| (trans.) Rabelais III 12: He was the most manifest Ruffian, Wencher, Whoremonger, and most infamous Cuckoldmaker that ever breath’d. | |
| Wandring Whore II 13: We have our Ruffians (such as your Hectors) that will tear the nations. | |
| Squire of Alsatia III i: He is a Ruffian, and a Cock-bawd to that Hen. | |
| Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Ruffin [...] an Assasin. | |
| Hell Upon Earth 6: Cook Ruffian (that scalded the Devil in his Feathers) comes to him for Three Pence. | |
| Dublin Intelligencer 11 Sept. 2/2: 3 Ruffians assaulted the Postboy [...] and carried off the Munster mail. | |
| New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698]. | |
| Derby Mercury 14 Jan. 3/2: ‘List of Officers which are established in the most notorious Gaming Houses [...] Common Bail, Affidavit Men, Ruffins, Bravoes, Assassins, cum multis aliis. | |
| Memoirs (1928) I 125: Suddenly methought I was in the midst of a parcel of ruffians who were fighting. | |
| Falstaff’s Wedding (1766) IV x: Had we not better hire some ruffian’s poniard; One whose miscarriage might not even reach us. | |
| Treatise upon Publicans 2: If he has not the right use of his limbs, how can he encounter with a ruffian, or one that is irregular, to get him out of the house? | |
| Memoirs (1995) III 222: A blasphemous prostitute. Who shared her charms indiscriminately with every ruffian who could afford a price. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | Democracy Unveiled 13: Since ye are a ruffian crew / As honest Jack Ketch ever knew . | |
| (trans.) Adventures of Gil Blas (1822) II 157: Our anchorite was at one transformed to a brawny ruffian of eight-and-twenty. | |
| Chester Courant 28 July4/2: A mad-brained Ruffian of quality flew at the four-in-hand. | |
| Spitalfields Weaver I ii: You — you challenge me like a ruffian. | |
![[Ire]](/static/img/flags/ire.png "Ireland") | Wexford Indep. 23 July 3/5: Some maliciously disposed ruffian or ruffians pulled down the front wall of an loffice [...] and smashed a jaunting car. | |
| Western Times 1 June 5/5: [He] was dressed with an elaboration of ruffianism. A bottle-green coat, a plush waistcoat, a belcher neckerchief, etc. | |
| Cork Examiner 31 May 4/6: A ruffian has fired at an Irish landlord. | |
| Lights and Shadows of N.Y. Life 542: Another class of those who live in open defiance of the law consists of the ‘Roughs.’ The New York Rough is simply a ruffian. | |
| Sth Wales Echo 7 Apr. 2/4: [headline] A Cardiff Ruffian Imprisoned. |