Rascal

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɹɑːs.kÉ™l/, /ˈɹæs.kÉ™l/

Origin

Recorded since c.1330, as Middle English rascaile ("people of the lowest class, rabble of an army"), derived from 12th century Old French rascaille ("outcast, rabble") (modern French racaille), perhaps from rasque ("mud, filth, scab, dregs"), from Vulgar Latin *rasicare ("to scrape"). The singular form is first attested in 1461; the present extended sense of "low, dishonest person" is from early 1586.

Full definition of rascal

Noun

1. A dishonest person; a rogue; a scoundrel; a trickster.
2. A playfully mischievous person or creature; a troublemaker.That little rascal bit me!If you have deer in the area, you may have to put a fence around your garden to keep the rascals out.
3. A member of a criminal gang in Papua New Guinea.

Synonyms

• (someone who is naughty) devil, imp, mischief-maker, scamp, scoundrel

Adjective

1. (archaic) low(ly), part of or belonging to the common rabble

Derived terms

• rascality
• rascally
• rascalry

Anagrams

• lascar
• sacral
• scalar