noun a pimp; a pander; also, a paramour.
2. ruffian ·adj brutal; cruel; savagely boisterous; murderous; as, ruffian rage.
3. ruffian ·vi to play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult.
4. ruffian ·noun a boisterous, cruel, brutal fellow; a desperate fellow ready for murderous or cruel deeds; a cutthroat.