noun
thug
THUG/θʌɡ/
A person who uses violence or intimidation against others.
The thug grabs the man's jacket and raises a threatening fist.
Etymology
The source word meant a cheat or swindler, but English first applied it to members of Indian gangs who robbed and strangled victims. It then broadened to a violent criminal or ruffian.
In context
he was a thug carried a 38 police special and his job was to muscle people
More examples
- Several thugs blocked the narrow entrance.
- The police arrested the thug after the assault.
- She refused to be intimidated by the hired thugs.
Forms
thug · thugs