Violent or rowdy behavior, especially by groups of young people, often involving vandalism or fighting.
From 'hooligan,' possibly derived from an Irish surname (Hoolahan) or Irish slang 'hooly' (bold). The -ism suffix makes it a noun describing the practice or behavior.
The term 'hooligan' first appeared in London newspapers in the 1890s to describe rowdy youth gangs, and we still don't know for sure if it came from a real person or just Irish street slang!
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