Word Meanings - BLACKGUARD - Book Publishers vocabulary database

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

Additional info about word: BLACKGUARD

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 . 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.

Related words: (words related to BLACKGUARD)

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• BESCRATCH
  To tear with the nails; to cover with scratches.
• BELIAL
  An evil spirit; a wicked and unprincipled person; the personification of evil. What concord hath Christ with Belia 2 Cor. vi. 15. A son of Belial, a worthless, wicked, or thoroughly depraved person. 1 Sam. ii. 12.
• BEASTLIHEAD
  Beastliness. Spenser.
• BEWRAP
  To wrap up; to cover. Fairfax.
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• BELEAVE
  To leave or to be left. May.
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  To beslobber.
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  To take away. Ire . . . benimeth the man fro God. Chaucer.
• COMBER
  1. One who combs; one whose occupation it is to comb wool, flax, etc. Also, a machine for combing wool, flax, etc. 2. A long, curling wave.
• GABBER
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• HAIRBELL
  See HAREBELL
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