outlaw

From Middle English outlawe, outlagh, utlaȝe, from Old English ūtlaga (“outlaw”), borrowed from Old Norse útlagi (“outlaw, fugitive”), equivalent to out- +‎ law. Cognate with Icelandic útlagi (“outlaw”).

outlaw (plural outlaws)

1. A fugitive from the law.
2. (historical) A criminal who is excluded from normal legal rights; one who can be killed at will without legal penalty.
3. A person who operates outside established norms.

   The main character in the play was a bit of an outlaw who refused to shake hands or say thank you.

4. A wild horse.
5. (humorous) An in-law: a relative by marriage.
6. (slang) A prostitute who works alone, without a pimp.

• (fugitive): absconder, fugitive
• (criminal): bandit, wolfshead
• (person who operates outside established norms): anti-hero, deviant

• (criminal): See Thesaurus:criminal
• (prostitute): See Thesaurus:prostitute

outlaw (third-person singular simple present outlaws, present participle outlawing, simple past and past participle outlawed)

1. To declare illegal.
2. To place a ban upon.
   • 2016 August 15, “'Zombie knives' ban to come into force”, in BBC News‎:

     The legal change in England and Wales will outlaw selling, manufacturing, renting or importing zombie knives.

3. To remove from legal jurisdiction or enforcement.

   to outlaw a debt or claim

4. To deprive of legal force.

   Laws outlawed by necessity. — Fuller.

• criminalize
• felonize
• misdemeanorize

• outlaw in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• outlaw in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• outlaw at OneLook Dictionary Search