thug

Where does the word "thug" come from? It comes from Sanskrit sthaga, passing through Hindi before entering English (1800s).

Thug’s story begins in Sanskrit: sthaga meant “a deceiver, swindler.” Meaning "cunning" or "deceiver". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as thag. A member of an organized band of robbers and stranglers. It reached English by 1800s as thug. William Sleeman's campaign against the Thuggee robber gangs in the 1830s made the word known. Today, thug means a violent criminal, especially one hired for brutal or intimidating tasks.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient sthaga "a deceiver, swindler", meaning "cunning" or "deceiver".
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval thag "a thief, robber", a member of an organized band of robbers and stranglers.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s thug "a violent criminal", William Sleeman's campaign against the Thuggee robber gangs in the 1830s made the word known.