Blackguards

Posted by R. Berg on August 20, 2002

In Reply to: Blackguards posted by Patty on August 20, 2002

: : : : My hubby has related several times that he remembers old movies, shown as kids' classics on TV when he was a kid, in which the term "blackards" was used in the dialogue. At least, this is what he says it sounded like. He said it was used to refer to bad characters, like pirates. I realise that this is not much of a phrase, but if it is another way of writing "black hearts" (which is our suspicion), then it is more of a two word slang term. A term for nefarious people.

: : : : Can anyone shed any light? Is my DH correct about this?

: : : : - Patty

: : : Maybe the following? :

: : : Main Entry: 1black·guard
: : : Pronunciation: 'bla-g&rd, -"gärd; 'blak-"gärd
: : : Function: noun
: : : Date: 1535
: : : 1 obsolete : the kitchen servants of a household
: : : 2 a : a rude or unscrupulous person b : a person who uses foul or abusive language
: : : - black·guard·ism /-g&r-"di-z&m, -"gär-/ noun
: : : - black·guard·ly /-g&rd-lE, -"gärd-/ adjective or adverb

: : I'm sure Bruce is right. "Blackguard" is exactly the kind of insult that's thrown around in old melodramas, and it sounds like "blackard."

:
: So then it's spelled "blackguard" is it? - Patty

Exactly.

• Blackguards James Briggs 08/20/02
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