English Explanatory Dictionary

badmash

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A rogue, ruffian or miscreant.

Pronunciation

/bʌdˈmɑːʃ/

Word forms

badmash badmashes badmaash budmash

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindustani بدمعاش (badm'āś) / बदमाश (badmāś) and its source, Persian بدمعاش (badma'âš), from بد (bad, “bad, evil”) + معاش (ma'âš, “life, livelihood”), ultimately from Arabic عَاشَ (ʕāša, “to live”). Compare lowlife, which is a similar formation in English.

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