Blackguard

Definition of Blackguard

Black´guard` Pronunciation: blăg´gärd

n.	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. 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.
	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.
v. t.	1.	To revile or abuse in scurrilous language. [imp. & p. p. Blackguarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackguarding.]
a.	1.	Scurrilous; abusive; low; worthless; vicious; as, blackguard language.

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