A ruffian.
1818. The riotous roisters, or, as they are here called, rowdies, will fight, not only from patriotism, but from mere love of fighting; it being one of their habitual amusements.—Henry C. Knight (‘Arthur Singleton’), ‘Letters from the South and West,’ p. 93 (Boston, 1824). (Italics in the original.)
1819. No legal inquiry took place, nor, indeed, ever takes place amongst Rowdies, as the Back-woodsmen are called.—W. Faux, ‘Memorable Days in America’ (1823), p. 179 (Lond.). (N.E.D.) (Italics in the original.)
1819. The hunters, or Illinois Rowdies, as they are called, are rather troublesome.—Id., p. 277.
1819. Mr. B. said the Rowdies had threatened him with assassination; but showing and convincing them that he would shoot them if they attempted to enter his house without permission, they abandoned their design.—Id., p. 284.
1819. When the English first came to Evansville settlement, these Rowdey labourers had nearly scared them out. Time is not property to these men; they are eternal triflers.—Id., p. 316. [Faux furnishes other examples.]
1825. We had a blow out here last Sunday, and half a dozen troublesome fellows, they call justices, were done for by the brave rowdies.—J. K. Paulding, ‘John Bull in America,’ p. 137 (N.Y.). (Italics in the original.)
1833. Tom was beginning to become what in this [part of the] country is called a “Rowdy,” that is to say a gentleman of pleasure, without the high finish which adorns that character in more polished societies.—James Hall, ‘Legends of the West,’ p. 45 (Phila.).
1840. See RAISE CAIN.
1842. If New York should place herself where some of her rowdy citizens have placed themselves.—Mr. Miller of New Jersey, June: Cong. Globe, p. 789, Appendix.
1845. If you marry [said she], marry a rowdy; marry any thing but a quiet man in love with abstractions, fractions, equations, roots, factors, binomials, and trinomials.—‘Lowell Offering,’ v. 28.
1846. John Van Buren is a rowdy, the associate of rowdies.—W. L. Mackenzie, ‘Life of Martin Van Buren,’ p. 148 (Boston).
1850. He is classed with free negroes, rowdies, and low-flung draymen.—H. C. Lewis (‘Madison Tensas’), ‘Odd Leaves,’ p. 122 (Phila.).
1856. So far from being a rowdy, he is a young man whose manners and appearance would render him distinguished in any assemblage.—‘Household Mysteries,’ N.Y., cited in Knick. Mag., xlviii. 416 (Oct.).
1860. I greatly desire that it [Cache Valley] may be filled with Saints, and not with rowdies—not with horse-thieves, murderers, and rioters, who roam over the country regardless of right.—Brigham Young, June 9: ‘Journal of Discourses,’ viii. 291.
1863. Report had it that three thousand Virginians and a large body of Maryland rowdies were already enlisted in the enterprise of securing the Capital of the Union.—O. J. Victor, ‘The History … of the Southern Rebellion,’ ii. 72.
1864. Take from the shoulders of these soldiers the strong hand of military control, and you will have—as ordinary armies go—a mass of swearing, gaming, drinking rowdies, ready to rush into any excess.—J. G. Holland, ‘Letters to the Joneses,’ p. 19.
