subs. (common).—1. A blackguard; and (2) a political brawler (American). Hence ROWDY (ROWDY-DOWDY, or ROWDY-DOW) = blackguardly, turbulent, vulgar; ROWDYISM (ROWDY-DOW, or ROWDINESS) = blackguardism.
1842. DICKENS, American Notes, xiii. Two … demi-johns, were consigned to the least ROWDY of the party for safe-keeping.
1852. BRISTED, The Upper Ten Thousand, 33. Whose team is that? Some ROWDY’S, I perceive. Ibid., 69. ‘That’s on account of my red wheels,’ exclaimed Masters. ‘They are rather ROWDY, I must own; not exactly the thing for a gentleman.’
1852. The Cadger’s Ball [LABERN, Popular Comic Song Book].
| Jane of the Hatchet-face divine, | |
| Just did the ROWDYDOWDY Poker. |
1857. C. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, x. A drunken, gambling, cut-throat ROWDY.
1857. Baltimore Clipper, 8 Sept. ‘Convention of Baltimore ROWDIES’ [Title].
1859. BARTLETT, Dictionary of Americanisms, s.v. ROWDY. The ROWDY nomenclature of the principal cities may now be classified as follows:
| NEW YORK.—‘Dead Rabbits,’ ‘Bowery Boys,’ ‘Forty Thieves,’ ‘Skinners,’ ‘Robin Hood Club,’ ‘Huge Paws,’ ‘Short Boys,’ ‘Swill Boys,’ ‘Shoulder-hitters,’ ‘Killers.’ | |
| PHILADELPHIA.—‘Killers,’ ‘Schuylkill Annihilators,’ ‘Moyamensing Hounds,’ ‘Northern Liberty Skivers,’ and ‘Peep-of-Day Boys.’ | |
| BALTIMORE.—‘Plug Uglies,’ ‘Rough Skins,’ ‘Double Pumps,’ ‘Tigers,’ ‘Black Snakes,’ ‘Stay Lates,’ ‘Hard Times,’ ‘Little Fellows,’ ‘Blood Tubs,’ ‘Dips,’ ‘Ranters,’ ‘Rip-Raps,’ and ‘Gladiators.’ |
1866. W. D. HOWELLS, Venetian Life, xx. The lasagnone is a loafer … but he cannot be a ROWDY,—that pleasing blossom on the nose of our fast, high-fed, thick-blooded civilisation.
1871. Observer, 24 Dec. Everything seems to be ROWDY, and to have about it a flavour of brandy-and-water; yet the people are industrious and well-ordered.
1882. T. A. GUTHRIE (‘F. Anstey’), Vice Versâ, v. “I was strolling down Petty Cury with two other men, smoking (Bosher of ‘Pothouse,’ and Peebles of ‘Cats,’ both pretty well known up there for general ROWDINESS, you know—dear old friends of mine).”
1884. Daily Telegraph, 11 Feb., 5, 2. His methods of controversy have been coarse; his Republicanism has been pushed to ROWDYISM.
1892. Pall Mall Gazette, 12 March, 6, 2. I have never heard him use any bad language, or behave in any ROWDY kind of way.
1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen-String Jack, i. 4. Theo. (aside.) What’s ROWDY, I wonder?
1842. P. EGAN, The Bould Yeoman [in Captain Macheath], iv.
| But said he I will not down you, if you will but disburse | |
| Your ROWDY with me, yeoman—I’m content to whack your purse! |
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, lxxv. From your account of him he seems a muff and not a beauty. But he has got THE ROWDY, which is the thing.
1856. Punch, xxxi. 79.
| The Queen of Oude, | |
| May spend her ROWD- | |
| Y, careless and sans souci. |
