bandit
UK: ˈbændɪt | US: ˈbændɪt
n. 1. A robber or outlaw, especially one who operates as part of a gang.
n. 2. (Informal) A mischievous or reckless person.
bandit = band<group> + it<agent suffix>
- band<group>: From Italian banda (troop, group), derived from Germanic bandwa- (sign, banner). Reflects the collective nature of outlaw gangs.
- it<agent suffix>: A suffix forming nouns denoting a person associated with an action or trait (e.g., "bandit" as "one who belongs to a band").
Etymology Origin:
The word bandit entered English via Italian bandito (literally "banned one"), from bandire (to banish). It originally referred to someone outlawed by authorities, later narrowing to armed robbers operating in groups (bands). The Germanic root bandwa- ties to the idea of a visible "sign" (e.g., a banner marking a group), reinforcing the collective identity of bandits.
The village was terrorized by a notorious bandit.
Modern pirates are often seen as maritime bandits.
The old western film featured a heroic sheriff chasing bandits.
He joked that his little brother was a cookie bandit.
Authorities arrested three bandits after a highway robbery.