gang
UK[ɡæŋ]US[ɡæŋ]
n
An organized group of criminals or troublemakers
n
A group of young people who spend time together, especially one involved in antisocial or criminal activity
n
A group of people who work together, especially on manual labor
Etymology
The word 'gang' began its journey in Old English with the neutral and practical meaning of "a going" or "a journey." This sense of a group moving together on a path naturally evolved to denote the group of travelers or companions themselves. Over centuries, the term's usage narrowed and specialized, often taking on a negative connotation. By the 17th century, it was commonly applied to bands of workers, but also to bands of criminals, with the latter sense eventually becoming the most prominent in modern general use, while the sense of a cohesive work crew persists in specific contexts.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form. It originates from the Old English 'gang', meaning "a going, journey, way, passage." It is related to the Old English verb 'gangan', "to go." The word is of Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'gang' and German 'Gang', with a shared root in the Proto-Indo-European base gʰengʰ-, meaning "to walk, to step."
Examples
The police are investigating a violent incident linked to a local gang.
He got in with a bad gang when he was a teenager.
A gang of workers was assigned to repair the road.