I. ˈblagə(r)d, -aigə-, -aˌgärd, -aiˌgärd, -akˌgärd, -ˌgȧd noun
Etymology: black (I) + guard
1. obsolete
a. : the kitchen servants of a noble or royal household
b. : the servants and hangers-on of an army
c. : a black, black-clothed, or villainous retinue
d. : street urchins especially as employed in blacking shoes, carrying torches, or running errands
e. : the criminal element of a community
2. obsolete : a vagabond child : a street urchin especially as employed in blacking shoes, carrying torches, or running errands
3.
a. : one whose conduct or character is disgraceful : a contemptible scoundrel — a generalized term of abuse
b. : a foulmouthed person
4. : snuff V 1a
Synonyms: see villain
II. adjective
1. obsolete : of or relating to a shoeblack or street urchin
2. : blackguardly
my schoolfellows were a very blackguard set — George Borrow
blackguard talk
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1. : to act in a ruffianly or scoundrelly manner : engage in disorderly behavior : run riot
blackguarding about the streets till he got his head cut and his clothes torn — Charles Lever
2. : to talk obscenely
transitive verb
: to talk about or address in abusive or obscene terms
he blackguarded the war, and the people that started it — Mark Twain