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Thug vs Thief - What's the difference?

thug | thief |

As nouns the difference between thug and thief

is that thug is a criminal with an intimidating and unseemly appearance and mannerisms, who treats others violently and roughly, especially for hire while thief is one who has carried out a theft.

thug

English

(wikipedia thug) From (etyl) . Thuggee was an Indian network of secret fraternities who were engaged in murdering and robbing travellers and known for strangling their victims, operating from the 17th century (possibly as early as 13th century) to the 19th century. During of India, many Indian words passed into common English, and in 1810 thug referred to members of these Indian gangs. The sense was adopted more generally as "ruffian, cutthroat" by 1839.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A criminal with an intimidating and unseemly appearance and mannerisms, who treats others violently and roughly, especially for hire.
  • (dated) One of a band of assassins formerly active in northern India who worshipped and offered their victims to her.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    thief

    English

    Noun

    (thieves)
  • One who has carried out a theft.
  • (obsolete) A waster in the snuff of a candle.
    • (Bishop Hall)

    Hyponyms

    * burglar * cat burglar * mugger * robber * pickpocket

    Related terms

    * thieve * thief in law

    Derived terms

    * *

    Anagrams

    * English nouns with irregular plurals