Latro

Wiktionary lists three meanings for the Latin word "latro": 1. mercenary 2. highwayman; brigand 3. chessman; pawn I've seen some discussion of Latro's role as a mercenary, somewhat less of his role as a pawn. But has anyone anything to say about his role as a brigand?

Anything manly or combative is under Latro's provenance, since he is closely associated with Pleistorus and Ares. In the texts I think much was made of "Latro" meaning simply something close to soldier ... brigand might be simply something of a pejorative view of a free company man of arms. [ He doesn't have to fit every definition of the word, after all - might be like trying to take "He lies in bed" as indicating someone who prevaricates while supine.]