bandit

[ban-dit] /ˈbæn dɪt/
noun, plural bandits or (Rare) banditti
[ban-dit-ee] /bænˈdɪt i/ (Show IPA)
1.
a robber, especially a member of a gang or marauding band.
2.
an outlaw or highwayman.
3.
Informal.
  1. a person who takes unfair advantage of others, as a merchant who overcharges; swindler; cheat.
  2. a vendor, cab driver, etc., who operates a business or works without a required license or permit, and without observing the usual rules or practices.
4.
Military Informal. an enemy aircraft, especially an attacking fighter.
Idioms
5.
make out like a bandit, Slang. to be extremely successful; profit greatly:
The early investors in the company have made out like bandits.
Origin
1585-95; earlier bandetto, plural banditti < Italian banditi outlaws, plural of bandito proscribed, past participle of bandire banish, exile, announce publicly < Gothic bandwjan to make a sign, indicate (cf. band1) with v. suffix -ire < Latin -īre
Synonyms
1, 2. brigand, desperado.
Examples from the web for bandit
  • Its hot, trackless south has long been bandit country.
  • bandit is the latest in a series of programs aimed at helping bird banders manage and submit their data for banded birds.
  • The bandit typically enters the bank and presents a demand note for cash.
British Dictionary definitions for bandit

bandit

/ˈbændɪt/
noun (pl) -dits, -ditti (-ˈdɪtɪ)
1.
a robber, esp a member of an armed gang; brigand
Derived Forms
banditry, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Italian bandito, literally: banished man, from bandire to proscribe, from bando edict, ban1
Word Origin and History for bandit
n.

1590s, from Italian bandito (plural banditi) "outlaw," past participle of bandire "proscribe, banish," from Vulgar Latin *bannire "to proclaim, proscribe," from Proto-Germanic *bann (see ban (v.)). *Bannire (or its Frankish cognate *bannjan) in Old French became banir-, which, with lengthened stem, became English banish.

Slang definitions & phrases for bandit

bandit

noun
  1. An enemy aircraft (WWII)
  2. An aggressive homosexual who often resorts to violence (1970s+ Prison)
Related Terms

like a bandit, make out like a bandit, one-arm bandit