Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Blackguard?

\Black"guard\, n. [Black + guard.] 1. The scullions and lower menials of a court, or of a nobleman's household, who, in a removal from one residence to another, had charge of the kitchen utensils, and being smutted by them, were jocularly called the ``black guard''; also, the servants and hangers-on of an army. [Obs.] A lousy slave, that . . . rode with the black guard in the duke's carriage, 'mongst spits and dripping pans. --Webster (1612). 2. The criminals and vagrants or vagabonds of a town or community, collectively. [Obs.] 3. A person of stained or low character, esp. one who uses scurrilous language, or treats others with foul abuse; a scoundrel; a rough. A man whose manners and sentiments are decidedly below those of his class deserves to be called a blackguard. --Macaulay. 4. A vagrant; a bootblack; a gamin. [Obs.]
\Black"guard`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blackguarded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Blackguarding}.] To revile or abuse in scurrilous language. --Southey.
\Black"guard\, a. Scurrilous; abusive; low; worthless; vicious; as, blackguard language.