Etymology Explorer › Italian

Where does “ruffianeria” come from?

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

ruffianeria (Italian): pimping; bootlicking, toadyism

Definitions

  1. pimping; bootlicking, toadyism

Ancestry of “ruffianeria”, 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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kreup- →