the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > ruffianly conduct > ruffian > [noun] > hired (4)
A member of a gang or army adhering to a particular leader; a hired ruffian or mercenary.
A thug or ruffian hired for purposes of violence or intimidation. Cf. bully boy, n. 2. Obsolete.
A person hired (esp. by racketeers) to terrorize workers; a thug. Originally U.S.