plugugly

[ pluhg-uhg-lee ]
/ ˈplʌgˌʌg li /

noun, plural plug·ug·lies. Informal.

a ruffian; rowdy; tough.

Origin of plugugly

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; plug + ugly

Example sentences from the Web for plug-ugly

British Dictionary definitions for plug-ugly

plug-ugly

adjective

informal extremely ugly

noun plural -lies

US slang a city tough; ruffian

Word Origin for plug-ugly

C19: origin obscure; originally applied to ruffians in New York who attempted to exert political pressure