Where does “ruffianly” come from?
Ruffianly derives from English ruffian, from Middle French rufian, from Italian ruffiano, from Italian roffia, from Old High German hruf, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European līg- and ḱóm.
ruffianly (English): Like or having the qualities of a ruffian; In the...
Definitions
- Like or having the qualities of a ruffian; In the...
Ancestry of “ruffianly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | ruffian | A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful,... |
| 2 | Middle French | rufian | — |
| 3 | Italian | ruffiano | pander, procurer, pimp; bootlicker; sycophant |
| 4 | Italian | roffia | scraps of tanned leather |
| 5 | Old High German | hrŭf | eschar, crust |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hreubaz | rough, crusty, scabby |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kreup- | scab, crust |