ruffed lemur

Zool .: Lemur varius ; called also the Black-and White Lemur. ruf-fi-an, *ruf-fi-on, *ruf-fy-an, *ruf-y-an, 8. & a. [Fr. rufsien (O. Fr. rufien , rufien ); cf. Ital. ruffiano ; Sp. rufian .] A. As substantive : *1. Originally, one who sets forward an infamous traffic between the sexes and is, as might be predicted, personally a libertine; a pimp, a pander, a paramour. 2. A brutal fellow; a rough ready for any crime; a robber, a cutthroat, a murderer. "With honorable ruffians in their hire." Thomson: Castle of Indolence , i. 55. B. As adj .: Pertaining to or characteristic of a ruffian; brutal, ruffianly. "Each village inn has heard the rufflan boast." Crabbe : Parish Register . truf-fi-an, v . i. [RUFFIAN, 8.] To play or act the ruffian; to raise tumult; to rage. "If it hath rufian'd so upon the sea." Shakesp.: Othello , ii. 1. ruf-fi-an-age (age as Ig), s. [English ruffian ; -age.] Ruffians collectively; rascaldom. "Escorted by the vilest rufianage."- Palgrave : Hist. Norm . & Eng ., iv. 678. *ruf-fi-an-ing, *ruf-fi-an-yng, subst . [English ruffian; -ing.) Ruffianly conduct. "Repent of light rufflanyng ."-Udall: Peter. ruf-fi-an-ish, a. [Eng. ruffian ; -ish.] Having the qualities or manners of a ruffian; ruffianly. ruf-fi-an-ism, subst . [Eng. ruffian ; -ism .] The character, qualities, or conduct of a ruffian. "He too will have to use force and penalties to repre ruffianism."-London Daily Telegraph.