ruffian
/ˈɹʌfi.ən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.36 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful, brutal and unreliable person.
adj
Example Sentences
- "What wilt thou on thy death-bed play the Ruffian?"
- "It was at Count Siloszech's. He'd heard her sing in the streets, with a tall, black-bearded ruffian, who accompanied her on a guitar, and a little fiddling gypsy fellow. She was a handsome woman, with hair down to her knees, but stupid as an owl."
- "Mrs Bycourt has two boys of her own, a few years older than Cyril and perfect young ruffians. Fortunately, they are generally away at boarding-school."
- "He [her husband] is no sooner abroad than she is instantly at home, revelling with her ruffians."
- "Methinks the wind does speak aloud at land; A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements. If it hath ruffianed so upon the sea."
- "ruffian rage"
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
Usage
Inflected Forms
ruffians (plural)
ruffians (present, singular)
ruffianing (participle, present)
ruffianed (participle, past)
ruffianed (past)
more ruffian (comparative)
most ruffian (superlative)