hoodlum

[ hood-luh m, hoo d- ]

/ ˈhud ləm, ˈhʊd- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR hoodlum ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a thug or gangster.

a young street ruffian, especially one belonging to a gang.

Words nearby hoodlum

hooded seal, hooded top, hooded warbler, hoodia, hoodie, hoodlum, hoodman-blind, hoodoo, hoodooism, hoodwink, hooey

Origin of hoodlum

1870–75, Americanism; probably < dialectal German; compare Swabian derivatives of Hudel rag, e.g. hudelum disorderly, hudellam weak, slack Hudellump(e) rags, slovenly, careless person, and related words in other dialects

OTHER WORDS FROM hoodlum

hood·lum·ish, adjectivehood·lum·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for hoodlum

A hoodlum crashes a pool party that not-so-bright Cameron throws in spite of the recent bloody death of one of his friends.
The Craziest Moments From ‘Ghost Shark’ (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|August 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum.
The Story Behind Bobby Rush, the Hoodie-Wearing, Trayvon-Supporting Congressman|Nicholas McCarvel|March 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
One hoodlum left the ranks and started off toward the barracks-room.
Funny Stories Told By The Soldiers|Carleton B. Case
The hoodlum muttered a contemptuous obscenity under his breath.
The Common Man|Guy McCord (AKA Dallas McCord Reynolds)

The hoodlum made no move to return the money, but continued to struggle wildly.
Motor Matt's Hard Luck|Stanley R. Matthews
Displaced by Italians and Slavs, many of the young men have fallen into the hoodlum and criminal element.
Races and Immigrants in America|John R. Commons
He knew he was a hoodlum; the trolley conductors had told him that.
Tom Slade|Percy K. Fitzhugh

British Dictionary definitions for hoodlum

hoodlum

/ (ˈhuːdləm) /

noun

a petty gangster or ruffian

a lawless youth

Derived forms of hoodlum

hoodlumism, noun

Word Origin for hoodlum

C19: perhaps from Southern German dialect Haderlump ragged good-for-nothing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hoodlum

noun

Words related to hoodlum

Words nearby hoodlum

Origin of hoodlum

OTHER WORDS FROM hoodlum

Examples from the Web for hoodlum

British Dictionary definitions for hoodlum

noun

Derived forms of hoodlum

Word Origin for hoodlum