Where does “ruffian” come from?

ruffian (French) comes from Italian ruffiano, from Italian roffia, from Old High German hrŭf, from Proto-Germanic hreubaz, from Proto-Indo-European kreup- — scab, crust.

ruffian (French): Alternative spelling of rufian

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of rufian

Ancestry of “ruffian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianruffianopander, procurer, pimp; bootlicker; sycophant
2Italianroffiascraps of tanned leather
3Old High Germanhrŭfeschar, crust
4Proto-Germanichreubazrough, crusty, scabby
5Proto-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 →