Ας προσθέσουμε και την αγγλική ετυμολόγηση, όπου ίσως βλέπουμε τις πηγές της ψευδοφιλίας:
ruffian (n.)
1530s, "a boisterous, brutal fellow, one ready to commit any crime," from Middle French rufian "a pimp" (15c.), from Italian ruffiano "a pander, pimp," of uncertain origin, perhaps from a...