bandit

plural bandits · archaic plural banditti

1. One who robs others in a lawless area, especially as part of a group.

   Do you recollect a story my nurse told us of a Sicilian bandit, the terror of the country?—how he saved a young child from a cottage on fire, brought it up delicately, and far removed from his own pursuits; while, at his execution, his chief regret was the future provision for that boy?

   1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 173

   Synonyms: thief

2. An outlaw.

   Synonyms: criminal, fugitive, outlaw

3. One who cheats others.

   Synonyms: cheater

4. aeronauticsAn aircraft identified as an enemy, but distinct from "hostile" or "threat" in that it is not immediately to be engaged.
5. slanghobbiesA runner who covertly joins a race without having registered as a participant.
6. UKdatedderogatoryslangSynonym of arse bandit.

   Synonyms: arse bandit

present singular third person bandits · participle present banditing · participle past bandited · past bandited

1. ambitransitiveTo rob, or steal from, in the manner of a bandit.

   As the sanctuary was bandited at least once, it may be that the silver wine cups I have are from the treasure.

   1937, The Atlantic Monthly, volume 160, page 7

   1 more example

   First, she read the bandit news in the paper, and was rather disappointed to learn that her man had evidently taken a night off from banditing. An imitator of the bandit had made an unsuccessful attempt to hold up a drug-store, and had backed out and run when the nervy proprietor reached for a gun; but that was all.

   1921, Munsey's Magazine, volume 74, page 38