noun
brigand
BRIG-und/ˈbrɪɡənd/
A robber, especially one in an armed gang.
An armed brigand blocks the mountain road and demands the travelers' money.
Etymology
The ancestor brigante meant a trooper or foot soldier. The bandit sense reflects the historical overlap between mercenary fighting bands and organized groups living by pillage.
More examples
- The caravan hired guards to deter brigands.
- A notorious brigand hid in the hills.
- The tale follows villagers resisting a gang of brigands.
Forms
brigand · brigands
Similar words
- thief
- A thief steals; brigand particularly suggests an armed bandit, often part of a gang.