bandit

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian bandito (“outlawed”), a derivative of Italian bandire (“to ban”). The Italian verb is inherited from Late Latin bannīre (“to ban”), but its form was influenced by Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bandwjan, “to signal”).

noun

1. One who robs others in a lawless area, especially as part of a group.
2. An outlaw.
3. One who cheats others.
4. (military, aviation) An aircraft identified as an enemy, but distinct from "hostile" or "threat" in that it is not immediately to be engaged.
5. (sports, slang) A runner who covertly joins a race without having registered as a participant.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To rob, or steal from, in the manner of a bandit.
   First, she read the bandit news in the paper, and was rather disappointed to learn that her man had evidently taken a night off from banditing. An imitator of the bandit had made an unsuccessful attempt to hold up a drug-store, and had backed out and run when the nervy proprietor reached for a gun; but that was all. 1921, Munsey's Magazine, volume 74, page 38
   As the sanctuary was bandited at least once, it may be that the silver wine cups I have are from the treasure. 1937, The Atlantic Monthly, volume 160, page 7