[Joe 6-pack]

Although the etymology of the word "hoodlum" is a matter of some conjecture, some would proffer that it is in fact a slur...against the Irish.

"But according to Charles Earle Funk (and other sources), hoodlum was the accidental coinage of a newspaper reporter. In a story about a gang of ruffians led by a fellow named Muldoon, the reporter spelled the name as Noodlum to avoid reprisals. The newspaper's compositor misinterpreted the name as Hoodlum."

[calex59]

Actually hoodlum comes from the old English. Why do you think they called Robin Hood by that name. It was actually,”Robin, the hood”, short for hoodlum. He was a real character, and so were the other “hoods” who ran with him. Hoodlum is definitely not racist. Only a racist would scream that it is.

[Daffynition]

The urban dictionary adds:

hoodlum

Term originally used to describe greasers. "Hood," is what a greasr would originally be called (the term "greaser," wasn't developed until the early 70's) "Lum," was short for "slums(ghetto)," which was were most "greasers," would usually live.

Your referenced definition reminds me of Scorsese’s film Gangs of New York and the rise of the Irish "New Guard" ........dirty politicians ......"the appearance of the law must be upheld, especially when it’s being broken."