ruffiano

pander, pimp

1 / 1

A street aggressor brutally pins an unresisting passerby against a plain wall by his shirtfront and raises a fist to strike; his open defensive hands make the one-sided intimidation clear.

noun

ruffian

RUF-ee-uhn/ˈrʌfiən/

A violent or brutal person.

Etymology

ruffianItalianpander, pimp

Ruffiano meant a pimp or pander, while English broadened the label to a brutal, lawless fellow. Its deeper origin is uncertain, and resemblance to rough may have influenced the English meaning.

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