Meaning of blackguard | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The lowest servant in a household charged with pots, pans, and other kitchen equipment.
   historical
2. An unprincipled, contemptible person; an untrustworthy person.
   dated
3. A man who uses foul language in front of a woman (typically a woman of high standing).
   archaic

Equivalents

Examples

“1830, Thomas Macaulay, Review⟳ of Robert Southey's edition of Pilgrim's Progress⟳, in the Edinburgh Review⟳ A man whose manners and sentiments are decidedly below those of his class deserves to be called a blackguard.”

“Pawn another man's property for the sake of a meal, eat⟳ and drink⟳ one's self to perdition, brand one's soul with the first little sear, set⟳ the first black mark⟳ against one's honour, call⟳ one's self a blackguard to one's own⟳ face⟳, and needs must cast⟳ one's eyes down before one's self? Never! never!”

“2006, Jan Freeman, Blaggards' of the year – Boston Globe "Arrr, keelhaul the blaggards!" wrote Ty Burr in the Globe last⟳ summer, pronouncing sentence on the malefactors who brought us the second "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie.”

CEFR level