badmash

Definition

A rogue, ruffian or miscreant.

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindustani بدمعاش (badm'āś) / बदमाश (badmāś) and its source, Persian بدمعاش (badma'âš), from بد (bad, “bad, evil”) + معاش (ma'âš, “life, livelihood”), ultimately from Arabic عَاشَ (ʕāša, “to live”). Compare lowlife, which is a similar formation in English.

Example Sentences

• "‘However big a badmash one is – if one's happy in consequence, that's some justification.’"
• "Once the five had left for the village, the Dutchman had immediately begun working on the badmash who had stood up to the havildar."
• "His wife laughed. “You'll see purdahs when we reach Port Said.” “And a bazaar?” “That's a market!” “Who's a badmash?” “A bad man is called a badmash. I'm not a badmash. Am I?”"