thug
noun
[ θʌɡ ]
• a violent person, especially a criminal.
• "he was attacked by a gang of thugs"
Similar:
ruffian,
hoodlum,
bully boy,
bully,
bandit,
mugger,
gangster,
terrorist,
gunman,
murderer,
killer,
hitman,
assassin,
hooligan,
vandal,
Yardie,
tough,
bruiser,
hired gun,
rough,
bovver boy,
lager lout,
chav,
hoodie,
ned,
hood,
goon,
roughie,
hoon,
cut-throat,
desperado,
myrmidon,
• a member of a group or organization of robbers and assassins in India who waylaid and strangled their victims, usually travellers, and stole their belongings. They were suppressed by the British in the 1830s.
Origin:
early 19th century (in thug (sense 2)): from Hindi ṭhag ‘swindler, thief’, based on Sanskrit sthagati ‘he covers or conceals’. thug (sense 1) arose in the mid 19th century.
