Where does “rufián” come from?

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

rufián (Spanish): villain, ruffian

Definitions

  1. villain, ruffian

Ancestry of “rufián”, 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-Every word from Proto-Germanic hreubazEvery word from Old High German hrŭf