hoodlum

[ hood-luhm, hood- ]

noun

1. a thug or gangster.
2. a young street ruffian, especially one belonging to a gang.

hoodlum

/ ˈhuːdləm /

noun

1. a petty gangster or ruffian
2. a lawless youth

Derived Forms

• ˈhoodlumism, noun

Other Words From

• hoodlum·ish adjective
• hoodlum·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoodlum¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoodlum¹

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

Example Sentences

A hoodlum crashes a pool party that not-so-bright Cameron throws in spite of the recent bloody death of one of his friends.

From The Daily Beast

Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum.

From The Daily Beast

Truth is, this drink-crazed madman was a hoodlum gunman from Chicago or Saint Louis, that had lost his nerve.

From Project Gutenberg

And so the Elks, for whom the former hoodlum of Barrel Alley had striven and worked and planned, became a complete patrol at last.

From Project Gutenberg

He turned a corner and came to a short, heavy hoodlum backing out of a small liquor store with a knife in throwing position.

From Project Gutenberg

An egg-sized rock hit the truck behind him and bounced back, just as he spotted a hoodlum drawing back a sling for a second shot.

From Project Gutenberg

Gordon got his head up just in time to see a man in police uniform kick aside the first hoodlum and lunge for the other.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• criminal
• delinquent
• gangster
• goon
• hooligan
• mobster
• punk
• ruffian
• thug