Young troublemakers or gang members who cause problems and break rules in their communities.
Hoodlum appeared in American English in the 1870s, possibly from the German 'Heidelberg' or from a San Francisco gang leader's nickname 'Hoodlum.' The origin is debated but the word became slang for street gang members and troublemakers.
The word 'hoodlum' is uniquely American and came of age right when cities were dealing with actual gang problems in the late 1800s—it captures a specific historical moment when youth gangs became a major urban concern.
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