Definition

Noun: * A member of an armed gang of robbers: A 'dakoit' is an individual who belongs to a band of criminals that uses weapons to commit robbery, typically operating in rural or remote areas, especially in South Asia.

Usage

The word 'dakoit' is a specific term for a type of bandit, historically associated with armed robbery in the Indian subcontinent. It is used to describe the individual criminal, while the gang itself is often called a 'dacoity'.

Examples

• The village lived in fear of the dakoit who raided the local market.
• After a long investigation, the police finally captured the notorious dakoit.
• The story was about a dakoit who stole from the rich.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical or regional contexts, particularly concerning crime in 19th and early 20th century India.
• It can be used figuratively to describe someone who acts in a ruthlessly predatory manner.
  • The corrupt official was described as a dakoit in a suit, plundering public funds.

Variants and Related Words

• Dacoit: This is the more common and standard spelling of the same word.
• Dacoity (noun): The act of banditry or armed robbery committed by a gang; the collective activity of dakoits.
  • The increase in dacoity along the highway was a major concern.

Synonyms

• Bandit
• Brigand
• Robber
• Highwayman (in a different historical context)
• Marauder

Antonyms

• Lawman
• Officer
• Guardian
• Protector

Noun

1. a member of an armed gang of robbers