thug（n.）
1810年，"印度的一伙谋杀和抢劫犯人，他们勒死受害者"，来自马拉地语 thag, thak "骗子，欺诈者"，印地语 thag，可能来自梵语 sthaga-s "狡猾的，欺诈的"，来自 sthagayati "(他)掩盖，隐藏"，来自 PIE 词根 *(s)teg- "覆盖"。
The thugs roamed about the country in bands of from 10 to 100, usually in the disguise of peddlers or pilgrims, gaining the confidence of other travelers, whom they strangled, when a favorable opportunity presented itself, with a handkerchief, an unwound turban, or a noosed cord. The shedding of blood was seldom resorted to. The motive of the thugs was not so much lust of plunder as a certain religious fanaticism. The bodies of their victims were hidden in graves dug with a consecrated pickax, and of their spoil one third was devoted to the goddess Kali, whom they worshiped. [Century Dictionary]
这些暴徒以10至100人的团队在国内游荡，通常伪装成小贩或朝圣者，获得其他旅行者的信任，然后在有利的机会出现时，用手帕、解开的头巾或套索勒死他们。他们很少流血。这些暴徒的动机不是为了掠夺，而是出于某种宗教狂热。他们将受害者的尸体埋藏在用神圣的镐挖掘的坟墓中，他们崇拜的女神卡利获得了他们战利品的三分之一。[世纪词典]
更准确的印度名称是 phanseegur（来自 phansi "套索"），这种活动在英语中早在公元1665年就有描述。从1831年开始，英国人严厉打击他们，到世纪末他们已经消失了。"恶棍，刺客，暴力低俗人"的引申义来自1839年。
该词起源时间：1810年