Plural of dacoit; members of organized bands of armed robbers or bandits, particularly those operating in India and Southeast Asia.
From Hindi 'ḍakoit,' a word for armed bandit or robber. Entered English during the British Raj as colonists encountered this organized form of banditry throughout India.
Famous dacoits like Thug Behram in India became so legendary that their stories inspired both novels and films—these weren't just random thieves but organized criminals with their own codes and territories.
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