1. Plural of plugugly; a person hired to intimidate, threaten, or commit violence, especially in labor disputes or political conflicts.
Usage: informal; chiefly historical; North American

Examples

• During the labor strike, the factory owner sent pluguglies to intimidate the workers.
• The political campaign was marred by accusations that pluguglies had been hired to disrupt rival rallies.
• In the early 20th century, pluguglies were commonly employed to break up union organizing efforts.
• The detective investigated reports that pluguglies had threatened local business owners.
• Historical accounts describe how pluguglies operated in the rough-and-tumble politics of that era.