vandal

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person who deliberately destroys or damages property, especially other people's.

   Vandals spray-painted obscenities on the side of the building.

2. 2
   noun

   A member of an ancient Germanic tribe famous for sacking Rome.

   The Vandals captured and looted Rome in 455 AD.

From Latin Vandalus, named after the Germanic tribe, from Proto-Germanic *wandilaz, from Proto-Indo-European *wendʰ-eh₂-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wendʰ- (“to turn, wind, braid”). Also related to Old English Wendlas.

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