Hoodlum
/ˈhuːdləm/noun
A rowdy, violent, or troublesome person, especially one in a gang.
Did you know?Unlike words such as *sinister* or *disaster*, *hoodlum* has no ancient occult root; it first surfaced in 19th-century American slang, where its exact origin was already unclear and possibly tied to a comic character or local argot.
Etymological Timeline
Late 19th Century
English
hoodlum
“American slang for a rough, rowdy, or criminal young man”
1870s
English
hoodlum
“Popularized in U.S. urban slang, especially in reports of street gangs and disorderly youths”
19th Century
English
hoodlum
“A term of uncertain origin, possibly from a comic or dialectal source”
Modern English
English
hoodlum
“A violent or troublesome person, especially a gang member”
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