raffish

Definition

Characterized by careless unconventionality; rakish.

Etymology

From late 18th century raff (“persons among the lowest class in society”) + -ish, still retained in contemporary English with riffraff. From Old French raffer (“to wear away”), of Germanic origin. Compare German raffen. Compare rip (“to tear”), rap (“to snatch”).

Example Sentences

• "Billie Eilish wants you to know she is in charge, brash and self-assured enough to scrap the raffish image that helped garner her a world of fans in favor of something a little more … adult."
• "The smokers' most raffish outsider, Comstock, appeared to do nothing but smoke; Chris had never seen him inside the building."
• "I had met the man before this in the village, and detested him on sight; there was something indescribably raffish in his looks and ways that raised my gorge; […]"

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