See Also: blackguard(1)(dictionary)
blackguard(2)(dictionary)
blackguard(dictionary)

blackguard(1) (iou)



blackguard noun & adjective. Orig. two words. E16.
[from BLACK adjective + GUARD noun: orig. significance unkn.]
A. noun.
I. A body of people.
A guard or group of attendants black in person, dress, or character. E16-E18.
the blackguard:
a. The lowest menials of a household; the scullions; an army's camp-followers. M16-E18.
b. Vagabonds, criminals, or vagrant children, as a group or class. L17-M18.
II. An individual.
A guard or attendant black in person, dress, or character. M16-M18.
A vagrant child, a shoeblack, etc. Only in 18.
A scoundrel, a villain; a foul-mouthed person. M18.
III.
More fully Irish blackguard. A kind of snuff. L18-L19.
b. adjective.
Of the vagrant children, shoeblacks, etc. L17-E19.
Scoundrelly, villainous; scurrilous. L18.
blackguardism noun blackguardly language or behaviour L18.
blackguardly adverb & adjective (a) adverb (rare) in the manner of a blackguard; (b) adjective characteristic of a blackguard, scoundrelly, scurrilous: E19.