Where does “ruffian” come from?

Ruffian comes from Middle French rufian, from Italian ruffiano, from Italian roffia, from Old High German hruf, from Proto-Indo-European kreup-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European krew-.

ruffian (English): A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful,...

Definitions

  1. A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful,...

Ancestry of “ruffian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchrufian—
2Italianruffianopander, procurer, pimp; bootlicker; sycophant
3Italianroffiascraps of tanned leather
4Old High Germanhrŭfeschar, crust
5Proto-Germanichreubazrough, crusty, scabby
6Proto-Indo-Europeankreup-scab, crust

Words derived from “ruffian”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kreup- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hreubaz →Every word from Old High German hrŭf →