HOODLUM


Meaning of HOODLUM in English

— hoodlumish , adj. — hoodlumism , n.

/hoohd"leuhm, hood"-/ , n.

1. a thug or gangster.

2. a young street ruffian, esp. one belonging to a gang.

[ 1870-75, Amer.; prob. Hudel rag, e.g. hudelum disorderly, hudellam weak, slack Hudellump ( e ) rags, slovenly, careless person, and related words in other dialects ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .