Ruffianism
/ˈrʌf.i.ə.nɪz.əm/noun
Behavior characteristic of a ruffian; brutal, lawless conduct.
Did you know?Ruffian comes through Old French from a Germanic word related to roughness, so the insult literally grew out of the idea of being physically harsh and untamed.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reup-
“to tear, pluck, or make rough”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hrūfaz
“rough, harsh”
Old French
OF
rufian
“a pimp, lecher, or disreputable fellow”
Middle English
ME
ruffian
“a violent, brutal person”
Modern English
English
ruffianism
“conduct or behavior like that of a ruffian”