Blackguard

This word for a scoundrel or villain is pronounced ‘blaggard’ and dates from the early 18th century. It is frequently misspelled as ‘blaggard’ which tends to disguise its origins. The word is first known from the mid-16th century and the original ‘black guard’ was a term used to describe lowly kitchen servants, the ones who scrubbed the pots and pans. Perhaps the pots and pans were literally black when they started on them but such an association would be a guess. By the end of the 16th century, the term was also used to describe the servants and camp followers of soldiers. This was more promising because the word might have been a tongue-in-cheek reference to the black guard that followed the real guard around. Any rabble that followed behind armies in those days would probably get involved in all sorts of dubious and dishonest activities. Therefore, it is not surprising that its current meaning of scoundrel or villain was in place by the early 18th century.