The Collaborative International Dictionary
Bravo \Bra"vo\, n.; pl. Bravoes. [I. See Brave, a.] A daring villain; a bandit; one who sets law at defiance; a professional assassin or murderer.
Safe from detection, seize the unwary prey.
And stab, like bravoes, all who come this way.
--Churchill.
Wiktionary
n. (plural of bravo English)
WordNet
See bravo
n. a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a treacherous surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed; "his assassins were hunted down like animals"; "assassinators of kings and emperors" [syn: assassin, assassinator]
a cry of approval as from an audience at the end of great performance
v. applaud with shouts of `bravo' or `brava'
[also: bravoes (pl)]
Usage examples of "bravoes".
In addition there was the comforting knowledge that although each was armed only with his regulation silverhilted thief's knife, they were nevertheless most strongly convoyed by three reliable and lethal bravoes hired for the evening from the Slayers' Brotherhood, one moving well ahead of them as point, the other two well behind as rear guard and chief striking force.
The 'three bravoes racing down upon them in concerted attack, all with swords poised to thrust, had assumed that the two highjackers would be armed at most with knives and as timid in weapons-combat as the general run of thieves and counter-thieves.
Meanwhile Fafhrd, facing die two bravoes from the west, swept aside their low thrusts with 'somewhat larger, down-sweeping parries in seconds and low prime, then flipped up his sword, as long as the Mouser's but heavier, so that it slashed through the neck of his right-hand adversary, half decapitating 'him.
Freelance bravoes, I'd judge 'cm, the sort the Brotherhood hires as extras when they get at once several big guard and escort jobs.
In addition there was the comforting knowledge that although each was armed only with his regulation silver hilted thief's knife, they were nevertheless most strongly convoyed by three reliable and lethal bravoes hired for the evening from the Slayers' Brotherhood, one moving well ahead of them as point, the other two well behind as rear guard and chief striking force.
There was life and motion everywhere, and yet everywhere there was a hush, a stealthy sort of stillness, that was suggestive of secret enterprises of bravoes and of lovers.
The secret history of Venice for a thousand years is here--its plots, its hidden trials, its assassinations, its commissions of hireling spies and masked bravoes--food, ready to hand, for a world of dark and mysterious romances.
We have seen no bravoes with poisoned stilettos, no masks, no wild carnival.