I. ˈrəfēən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French rufian
1. : a coarse, brutal, or cruel fellow : a man of crime or violence : bully , rowdy , tough
2. obsolete : a keeper and companion of whores : pander , pimp
II. adjective
: of, relating to, or behaving like a ruffian : brutal , coarse , rowdy
III. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
archaic : to play the ruffian : act rough