Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Having the qualities or manners of a ruffian.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Having the qualities or manners of a ruffian; ruffianly.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Having the qualities or manners of a
ruffian .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
ruffian + -ish
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word ruffianish.
Examples
-
The very boxes themselves are no sanctuary from ruffianish incivility; while the ears are stunned, and the cheek of
-
For the ruffianish pages of Jack London, the pungent, hospitable smell of a first-class bar-room -- that indescribable mingling of Maryland rye, cigar smoke, stale malt liquor, radishes, potato salad and _blutwurst_.
-
He did not join in the common execrations of men, or approve their punitive severities; he saw something excellent in the vilest, he would win by love the most ruffianish, and the profligate he bade ` Go, and sin no more. '
Margaret 1851
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.