bandit

noun, verb — 7 senses

bandit

noun

/ˈbændɪt/

Etymology Borrowed from Italian bandito (“outlawed”), a derivative of Italian bandire (“to ban”), from Late Latin bandīre, an alteration (due to Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bandwjan, “to signal”)) of Late Latin bannīre (“to ban”), from Frankish *bannan (“to ban”). Doublet of bandito.

1

One who robs others in a lawless area, especially as part of a group.

  • Do you recollect a story my nurse told us of a Sicilian bandit, the terror of the country?—how he saved a young child from a cottage on fire, brought it up delicately, and far removed from his own pursuits; while, at his execution, his chief regret was the future provision for that boy?1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 173:
2

An outlaw.

3

One who cheats others.

4

Aeronautics, Aerospace, Aviation, Business, Engineering, Government, Military, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Politics, War An aircraft identified as an enemy, but distinct from "hostile" or "threat" in that it is not immediately to be engaged.

5

Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Slang A runner who covertly joins a race without having registered as a participant.

6

UK, Dated, Derogatory, Slang Synonym of arse bandit.

Synonyms
thief, criminal, fugitive, outlaw, cheater, bandit, bandito, brigand, latron, rapparee
Derived terms
arse bandit, ass bandit, back-door bandit, bail bandit, banditism, banditry, Beltway bandit, blue light bandit, booty bandit, botty bandit, communist bandit, dumpster bandit, garbage bandit, gas meter bandit, make out like a bandit, multi-armed bandit, one-arm bandit, one-armed bandit, pussy bandit, shag-bandit, shag bandit, squeegee bandit, time bandit, trash bandit
Related terms
pirate
Hypernyms
criminal, thief
Hyponyms
highwayman, warlord, bushranger, dacoit, moss-trooper, thug

bandit

verb

Etymology Borrowed from Italian bandito (“outlawed”), a derivative of Italian bandire (“to ban”), from Late Latin bandīre, an alteration (due to Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bandwjan, “to signal”)) of Late Latin bannīre (“to ban”), from Frankish *bannan (“to ban”). Doublet of bandito.

1

Ambitransitive To rob, or steal from, in the manner of a bandit.

  • First, she read the bandit news in the paper, and was rather disappointed to learn that her man had evidently taken a night off from banditing. An imitator of the bandit had made an unsuccessful attempt to hold up a drug-store, and had backed out and run when the nervy proprietor reached for a gun; but that was all.1921, Munsey's Magazine, volume 74, page 38:
  • As the sanctuary was bandited at least once, it may be that the silver wine cups I have are from the treasure.1937, The Atlantic Monthly, volume 160, page 7:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.