See ruffian in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
noun
A rough, violent person who engages in destructive actions:
hoodlum, mug, roughneck, rowdy, tough. (Informal) toughie. (Slang) hood, punk. See attack, crimesA person who treats others violently and roughly, especially for hire:
hoodlum, thug, tough. (Informal) hooligan. (Slang) goon, gorilla, hood. See attack, crimes
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