thug noun \ˈthəg\
: a violent criminal
Full Definition of THUG
: a brutal ruffian or assassin : gangster, tough
— thug·gery noun
— thug·gish adjective
Examples of THUG
He was beaten and robbed by street thugs.
<the Mob boss regularly sent his thugs after people who were slow to pay their debts>
Origin of THUG
Hindi & Urdu ṭhag, literally, thief
First Known Use: 1810
Related to THUG
Synonymsbully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, gorilla, hood, hooligan, mobster, mug, plug-ugly, punk, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, hoodlum, tough, toughie (also toughy), yob [British], yobbo [British]
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thug
Pete