Vandal
/ˈvændl/noun
A person who deliberately destroys or damages property.
Did you know?The modern insult comes from the Vandals, a Germanic people whose name was later weaponized by Roman writers, turning an ethnic label into a symbol of ruin.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wendh-
“to turn, wind, twist”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*Wanđilaz
“name of a Germanic tribal group, probably meaning something like 'wanderers' or 'the turners'”
Latin
Latin
Vandali
“the Vandals, a Germanic people known to the Romans”
Late Latin / Medieval French
Latin / Old French
vandale
“a Vandal; later, a destructive person”
English
English
vandal
“one who willfully destroys or damages property”