bandit

Where does the word "bandit" come from? It comes from Italian bandire, passing through Italian before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Bandit’s story begins in Italian: bandire meant “to banish.” Within Italian, it grew into bandito by medieval. Literally "one banished", an outlaw. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as bandit. From Italian 'bandito', one who has been banished or outlawed. Today, bandit means an armed robber, especially one belonging to a gang.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · medieval bandire "to banish", meaning "to banish".
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval bandito "an outlaw", literally "one banished", an outlaw.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s-1600s bandit "an armed robber, especially operating in a group", from Italian 'bandito', one who has been banished or outlawed.