[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

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

Language is a living thing, Pete. Dictionaries follow usage, they don't define it.