ENGLISH
REFERENCE

raffish

adj.
US //ˈɹæfɪʃ// UK //ɹˈæfɪʃ// raff·ish
Synonyms
Origin

From late 18th century raff (“persons among the lowest class in society”) + -ish, still retained in contemporary English with riffraff. From Old French raffer (“to wear away”), of Germanic origin. Compare German raffen. Compare rip (“to tear”), rap (“to snatch”).

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