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Mohocks

The Mohocks were a gang that terrorized London in the early eighteenth century, attacking men and women alike. Named for the Mohawk Indians, they assaulted both men and women, disfiguring their male victims and sexually assaulting their female victims. The matter came to a head in 1712 when a bounty of £100 was issued by the royal court for their capture.

This gang was also known as the "young bloods", which was later shortened to "bloods". This name is possibly the origin of the British sense of the adjective bloody, which was not considered particularly impolite until the 18th century.

According to Lady Wentworth, "They put an old woman into a hogshead, and rolled her down a hill; they cut off some noses, others' hands, and several barbarous tricks, without any provocation. They are said to be young gentlemen; they never take any money from any." (Wentworth Papers, 277)

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