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hoodlum
[ hood-luhm, hood- ]
/ ˈhud ləm, ˈhʊd- /
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Definition of hoodlum
noun
a thug or gangster.
a young street ruffian, especially one belonging to a gang.
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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, nounWords nearby hoodlum
hooded seal, hooded top, hooded warbler, hoodia, hoodie, hoodlum, hoodman-blind, hood molding, hood mould, hoodoo, Hoodooism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use hoodlum in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for hoodlum
hoodlum
/ (ˈhuːdləm) /
noun
a petty gangster or ruffian
a lawless youth
Derived forms of hoodlum
hoodlumism, nounWord 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
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