ruffianly-looking

Except for the loss of time it made no difference to me, but when the kuruma did come up the runners were three such ruffianly-looking men, and were dressed so wildly in bark cloth, that, in sending Ito on twelve miles to secure relays, I sent my money along with him.

Unbeaten Tracks in Japan Isabella Lucy 2004

I do not remember ever to have seen a more ruffianly-looking fellow; he was about six feet high, with an immensely athletic frame; his face was black and bluff, and sported an immense pair of whiskers, but with here and there a gray hair, for his age could not be much under fifty.

Lavengro 2004

I glanced back, and saw the ruffianly-looking man within a yard or two, with his arm raised and one finger up, telegraphing, as it seemed, to the gentlemen in front.

Uncle Silas 2003

They were described as "a ruffianly-looking lot," and the speaker was sure "there was one man at least who had had his knife into some one."

Three Years in Tristan da Cunha Katherine Mary Barrow

A ruffianly-looking fellow, with a swarthy complexion and big black whiskers, who proved to be the commander, beckoned Captain

Jack in the Forecastle or, Incidents in the Early Life of Hawser Martingale John Sherburne Sleeper

This particular station was owned by some half-caste Portuguese, and worked by a mixture of aborigines and Malays, a most unpromising and ruffianly-looking set.

Queensland Cousins Eleanor Luisa Haverfield

The man was only half-dressed, being in his shirt and trousers, as if caught unawares, holding a cocked revolver yet in his rigid fingers, stretched out in steady aim; while, at the further end of the cabin, where there was another doorway, communicating apparently with the main saloon, lay four ruffianly-looking fellows, all with long Spanish knives in their hands tightly clutched as if to strike.

Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant John B. [Illustrator] Greene

A more ruffianly-looking assemblage it would have been hard to discover.

Punch Among the Planets Various

And now that I come to think of it, it must have looked remarkable -- a ruffianly-looking man, carrying a disreputable bundle of blankets, a tin cup and water-bottle slung across his shoulders all clanking together, and a small _Bible_ in his hands, with a well-dressed lady on each arm and an armed soldier behind, guarding the whole!

The Petticoat Commando Boer Women in Secret Service Johanna Brandt 1920

An hour later - evening was drawing on - he came back, followed by a somewhat ruffianly-looking half-breed Rajput-Punjaubi.

Rung Ho Mundy, Talbot, 1879-1940 1914