Where does “bangster” come from?

bangster (English) comes from English bang, from Middle English bangen, from Old Norse banga, from Proto-Germanic bang-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰen- — to beat, hit, injure; to hit, strike, injure; to...

bangster (English): a violent fellow; ruffian; bully; braggart; an...

Definitions

  1. a violent fellow; ruffian; bully; braggart; an...

Ancestry of “bangster”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbangA sudden percussive noise; A strike upon an...
2Middle Englishbangen—
3Old Norsebangato bang, pound, hammer
4Proto-Germanicbang-to bang; pound; beat
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰen-to beat, hit, injure; to hit, strike, injure; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰen- →