Highwaymen

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of historical bandits who ambushed travelers on roads for robbery, often operating in isolated areas
2. Individuals engaged in the act of robbing people traveling on highways, typically during the 17th and 18th centuries
3. Criminals known for targeting and attacking road users to steal their belongings, frequently using firearms or intimidation tactics

Etymology: "Highwaymen" is the plural of "highwayman," a compound of "highway" and "man." The first element refers to a public road, and "highway" was once a plain description of a main road that travellers used, rather than a term for a motorway. The second element is the ordinary English word for a male person, so the compound literally describes a man who works on or around the road. The word for the robber was built directly from these two parts, which is why it reads so transparently. A highwayman was a person who stopped travellers on the open road and took their valuables, in contrast to a footpad, who worked on foot in towns and lanes.

Synonyms: robbers, bandits, thieves