Plural form of desperado; dangerous, reckless criminals or outlaws with nothing to lose.
From Spanish desperado (one despairing, without hope), derived from Latin desperatus (hopeless).
The Eagles' 1973 song 'Desperado' transformed the word from historical criminal description into a romantic metaphor for anyone trapped and desperate—modern culture revived an Old West term.
Plural of desperado; carries same male bias as singular. Outlaw narratives historically centered men; female desperados were exceptions or novelties in storytelling.
Use 'desperados' as gender-neutral plural. When discussing specific historical desperados, include women's stories if relevant.
["outlaws","fugitives","desperados (gender-neutral plural)"]
Women like Belle Starr and Pearl Hart were skilled desperados; historical erasure reflects bias in documentation and media, not in actual participation.
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