A member of an organized criminal group or gang. Someone involved in illegal activities as part of a criminal organization.
American English from early 1890s, combining 'gang' (from Old English 'gang' meaning 'a going, journey') with suffix '-ster.' The modern criminal meaning emerged during Prohibition era in 1920s America.
The golden age of gangsters coincided perfectly with Prohibition - when alcohol became illegal, ordinary businessmen suddenly became criminals overnight, creating a romantic mythology around figures like Al Capone that Hollywood still exploits today.
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