A pimp; a pander; also, a paramour. [Obs.] he [her husband] is no sooner abroad than she is instantly at home, reveling with her ruffians. Bp. Reynolds.
A boisterous, cruel, brutal fellow; a desperate fellow ready for murderous or cruel deeds; a cutthroat. Wilt thou on thy deathbed play the ruffian Shak.
brutal; cruel; savagely boisterous; murderous; as, ruffian rage.
To play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult. [R.] Shak.
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