thug

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from Hindustani ठग (ṭhag) / ٹھگ (ṭhag, “swindler, fraud, cheat”), further derived from Prakrit 𑀞𑀕 (ṭhaga), of uncertain origin. See there for more. Thuggee was a network of gangs in India from the 17th century to the 19th century who robbed and murdered travellers, often by strangling and beating their victims to death. During British Imperial rule of India, many Indian words passed into common English, and by 1810 thug referred to a member of these Indian gangs. The sense was adopted more generally as "ruffian, cutthroat, and cruel robber" by 1839. Perhaps related to English thatch, deck. === Pronunciation === enPR: thŭg, (Received Pronunciation, Southern England, General American) IPA(key): /θʌɡ/ (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /θɐɡ/ (Northern England) IPA(key): /θʊɡ/ (Southern England, th-fronting) IPA(key): /fʌɡ/ (Northern England, th-fronting) IPA(key): /fʊɡ/ (India) IPA(key): /ʈʰəɡ/ Rhymes: -ʌɡ Homophone: fug (th-fronting) === Noun === thug (plural thugs) A person who is a member of a gang or criminal organization. A violent, aggressive, or truculent person. A criminal that extorts people. A person who use intimidation to coerce others. (historical) One of a band of assassins formerly active in northern India who worshipped Kali and sacrificed their victims to her. Synonym: phansigar (African-American Vernacular) One who, usually as a result of social disadvantage, has turned to committing crimes (e.g. selling drugs, robbery, assault, etc.) to make a living; a gangsta. (horticulture) An overvigorous plant that spreads and dominates the flowerbed. A wooden bat used in the game of miniten, fitting around the player's hand. ==== Synonyms ==== See also Thesaurus:villain ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== → French: thug ==== Translations ==== === Verb === thug (third-person singular simple present thugs, present participle thugging, simple past and past participle thugged) (informal, transitive) To commit acts of thuggery, to live the life of a thug, to menace, to commit crime. (informal, transitive) (often with out) To appear as a thug; to dress and act in a manner reminiscent of a thug. === Anagrams === Guth == French == === Etymology === Borrowed from English thug, in turn derived from Hindustani ठग (ṭhag) / ٹھگ (ṭhag, “swindler, fraud, cheat”), further derived from Prakrit 𑀞𑀕 (ṭhaga), of uncertain origin. See there for more. === Pronunciation === (Belgium, France) IPA(key): /tœɡ/ (Quebec) IPA(key): /tɔɡ/ === Noun === thug m or f (plural thugs) (derogatory) thug, yob. == Irish == === Pronunciation === (Munster, Connacht) IPA(key): /ˈhuɡ/ (Ulster) IPA(key): /ˈhɞɡ/ === Verb === thug analytic past indicative of tabhair === References === == Scottish Gaelic == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [huk] === Verb === thug (dependent tug) past of thoir