Etymology Explorer › Italian

Where does “ruffiano” come from?

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

ruffiano (Italian): pander, procurer, pimp; bootlicker; sycophant

Definitions

  1. pander, procurer, pimp; bootlicker; sycophant

Ancestry of “ruffiano”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianroffiascraps of tanned leather
2Old High Germanhrŭfeschar, crust
3Proto-Germanichreubazrough, crusty, scabby
4Proto-Indo-Europeankreup-scab, crust

Words derived from “ruffiano”

  • ruffian
  • ruffianly
  • ruffianism
  • ruffianlike
  • ruffianage
  • ruffianish
  • ruffianous
  • ruffianeria
  • ruffianesco
  • ruffianeggiare
  • rufian
  • ruffian
  • ρουφιάνος
  • ruifíneach
  • rufian
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kreup- →