1. a member of an armed gang of robbers in India or Myanmar
Usage: historical; regional

Examples

• The village was terrorized by a band of dacoits who robbed travelers on the main road.
• British colonial records describe numerous encounters with dacoits in rural Bengal.
• The dacoit leader was eventually captured by local authorities.
• Stories of dacoits became part of regional folklore and literature.
• The film depicted the life of a famous dacoit from the 19th century.
• Merchants hired guards to protect their caravans from dacoits.