sbire

henchman, minion

noun SBEER Rare

Origin: Italian sbirro (police officer, thug)

Usage Note

Sbire is a derogatory term for a subordinate who does another's dirty work, often in a criminal or political context. It carries a strong negative connotation. The word came into French via Italian and retains a slightly archaic or literary flavor today.

Examples

"Le chef envoyait ses sbires intimider les témoins."

Natural Translation

The boss sent his henchmen to intimidate the witnesses.

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