ruffianlyadj.
/ˈrʌfɪənli/, U.S. /ˈrəfiənli/ 1. Of or belonging to a ruffian or ruffians; characteristic of or appropriate to ruffians.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > ruffianly conduct > [adjective]
ruffian1553
ruffian-like1555
ruffianous1555
ruffianly1561
ruffianish1593
rowdy dowdy1816
rowdy1835
roughneck1906
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [adverb]
heterlya1225
sturdilyc1374
outraiouslya1400
harageouslyc1450
ruffianly1561
ruffian-like1580
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [adjective] > characteristic of hooligans or ruffians
ruffian1553
ruffian-like1555
ruffianous1555
ruffianly1561
ruffianish1593
pretty-boy1785
thuggish1848
thug1878
hooliganesque1899
hooliganic1902
thuggy1904
thug-like1941
yobbish1966
thugged out1996
1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer ii. sig. Q.iii Ruffianlye pranckes [It. Operationi da sciocchi].
?1577 J. Northbrooke Spiritus est Vicarius Christi: Treat. Dicing 134 By the worde (dauncing) there is not ment euery maner of wanton or ruffianly leaping & frisking.
1603 Lismore Papers (1887) 2nd Ser. I. 44 He marvauled that he would..breake owt into such passion in that rufeaniely sorte.
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions p. cx He..had from him instead of thanks a ruffianly Answer.
1718 E. Settle Lady's Triumph ii. i. 17 This last Ruffianly Insolence has so provoked me, that I must..tell you, Sir, we have Laws, not Swords to right us.
1750 J. Hill Lucina sine Concubitu 6 For daring to asperse her Daughter's Reputation in that wicked ruffianly Manner.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth I. i. 27 The mercer there..affects a ruffianly vapouring humour.
1874 J. L. Motley Life John of Barneveld II. xxi. 386 Two common soldiers of ruffianly aspect.
1883 Harper's Mag. June 137/2 He runs his wild race, drinks his poor rum, indulges every desire of his ruffianly heart.
1912 J. Conrad 'Twixt Land & Sea 60 She piped out at once in her brazen, ruffianly manner.
1930 I. Low His Master's Voice ii. 22 He had a ruffianly physiognomy and short blunt fingers.
2005 R. J. B. Bosworth Mussolini's Italy (2007) vii. 188 The squads..frequently being led by men..determined to impose their ruffianly version of ‘revolution’ on their localities.
2. Of a person or group: having the character, appearance, or demeanour of a ruffian or ruffians.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [adjective]
outragea1325
violentc1384
boistousa1387
outrageousc1390
outraiousc1390
harageous?a1400
hetera1400
methelessc1400
ruffian1528
termagant1546
sore1565
ruffianly1570
boisterous1581
violousa1626
tory-rory1678
plug-ugly1857
radge1857
amok1868
tough1884
roughhouse1896
butch1939
shit-kicking1953
hard-ass1967
tasty1974
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > ruffianly conduct > ruffian > [adjective]
ruffian1528
ruffianly1570
tory-rory1678
rowdy1819
tear-brass1880
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1359/1 A certeine seruyng man of the lyke ruffynly order.
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 77 No Smithfield ruffianly Swashbuckler, will come of with such harshe hell-raking othes as they.
1633 W. Prynne Histrio-mastix 210 Love-lockes, growne now too much in fashion with comly Pages, Youthes, and lewd effeminate ruffianly persons.
1656 J. Cotton Expos. Thirteenth Chapter Rev. viii. 126 There were some ruffinly Captains that would have had him cut off Ambroses head.
1674 T. Blount Glossographia (ed. 4) at Ruffians Hall Where Trials of Skill were plaid by ordinary Ruffianly people.
1725 B. Higgons Hist. & Crit. Remarks Burnet's Hist. 166 They..violently drove the Orthodox Ministers from their Livings, by the Help of their ruffianly Red-coats.
1794 H. B. Dudley Travellers in Switzerland iii. viii. 78 Having properly disposed of the ruffianly Comte,..I thought in my duty to administer the best comfort in my power.
1829 P. Egan Boxiana New Ser. II. 130 This ruffianly boxer, with a little tuition, may be made a gentlemanly fighter.
1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics I. vi. viii. 292 He sits himself down to table with a ruffianly set of drovers and traders.
1919 K. Hooker Byways in Southern Tuscany ix. 142 Ruffianly boys greeted us with yells and one or two threw stones.
1968 Times 16 Nov. 2/5 In my opinion you're every bit as guilty as your ruffianly associate.
2006 Irish Times (Nexis) 12 Jan. 17 His councils were usually bedlam, his pronouncements often interrupted by jeering, ruffianly young upstarts.
Compounds
ruffianly-looking adj.
ΚΠ
1819 Cap of Liberty 29 Sept. 60 A ruffianly looking wretch preferred the accusation against him.
1823 W. Scott Peveril II. xi. 297 Two ruffianly-looking men, apparently his guards, had hold of his doublet.
1957 Times 13 Apr. 9/5 In the struggle they both fell down, when some ruffianly-looking fellow near him called out, ‘Leave the woman alone!’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1561