hoodlumism

Variant of hoodlum

hoodlum definition

☆ hood·lum (ho̵od′ləm, ho̵̅o̅d′-)

noun

  1. a wild, lawless person, often a member of a gang of criminals
  2. a tough-looking young ruffian

Etymology: prob. < Ger dial. (esp. Swiss) hudilump, wretch, miserable fellow < MHG hudel, rag, wretch + lump, rag, tatter, wretch

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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