Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A robber or bandit, especially one of an outlaw band.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A sort of irregular foot-soldier.
- noun A robber; a freebooter; a highwayman; especially, one of a gang of robbers living in secret retreats in mountains or forests.
- noun Synonyms Bandit, etc. See
robber .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun obsolete A light-armed, irregular foot soldier.
- noun A lawless fellow who lives by plunder; one of a band of robbers; especially, one of a gang living in mountain retreats; a highwayman; a freebooter.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun An
outlaw orbandit .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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It would be grossly unfair to apply the name brigand to the Mainotes and similar clans, who had to choose between being flayed by the Turks or living by the sword under their own law.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" Various
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A sherrif who executes a brigand isn't a hero, he's just doing his job - unless the brigand is a larger than life figure, in which case, he becomes the more interesting character.
On Why Weren't The "Good Guys" Celebrated? Jack of Kent 2009
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Thus, in all imaginative countries, the brigand is a hero; even the assassin who shoots his victim from behind a hedge appeals to the fancy in Tipperary or on the Abruzzian hills.
Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah 2003
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The Latin words for robber are fur and latro; the former taken from the Greek for, from GREEK íþþþ or fhrw, Latin fero, I carry away; the latter from laqrw, I play the part of a brigand, which is derived from lhqw, Latin lateo, I conceal myself.
What is Property? An Inquiry into the Principle of Right and of Government. 1890
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Those times were somewhat wild and barbarous, signore, and a gentleman who protected his estates and asked tribute of strangers was termed a brigand, and became highly respected.
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It was all merely a bit of American "bluff," and it succeeded because the brigand was a coward, and dared not emulate his daughter's courage.
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Paulo called the brigand's attention to the fact that they could be easily seen from the other side of the valley.
Revenge! Robert Barr 1881
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The withdrawal of the brigand was a signal for a regular mob of the lawless men to make their appearance.
Jack Harkaway and His Son's Escape from the Brigand's of Greece Bracebridge Hemyng 1871
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My brigand is a lighthouse-keeper, and welcomes me in a quiet way, glad, evidently, to see the face of a civilized being.
The Complete Project Gutenberg Writings of Charles Dudley Warner Charles Dudley Warner 1864
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My brigand is a lighthouse-keeper, and welcomes me in a quiet way, glad, evidently, to see the face of a civilized being.
Saunterings Charles Dudley Warner 1864
madmouth commented on the word brigand
also see brigandry
April 11, 2009