Rapscallion

Rapscallion

A rapscallion is one who is playfully mischievous or a scoundrel. Rapscallion comes from the now-obsolete word "rascallion" meaning rascal. It is possible that the contemporary pejorative word for a vandal or youth who perpetrates antisocial behavior (such as petty theft, graffiti, or harassment) "Scally" is derived from "Rapscallion." "Scally" is a common term for such individuals in the United Kingdom and Australia, but does not feature in American English. Can also be related to a pirate's lady of the evening or man depending upon the orientation of the said pirate.

Rapscallion can also mean:
* "Rapscallion", space freighter in "The Space Gypsy Adventures"
* The Rapscallions, antagonist army in the book "The Long Patrol"
* "Rapscallion", a song on "Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People" by Primus
* Rapp Scallion, a character in the game "Monkey Island"
* Clemson University's humor publication is titled "The Rapscallion"


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  • Rapscallion — Rap*scal lion (r[a^]p*sk[a^]l y[u^]n), n. [See {Rascallion}.] A rascal; a good for nothing fellow. [Colloq.] Howitt. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rapscallion — index degenerate, malefactor Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • rapscallion — (n.) 1690s, alteration of rascallion (1640s), a fanciful elaboration of RASCAL (Cf. rascal) (q.v.). It is the parallel term of now extinct rampallion (1590s), from Middle English ramp (n.) ill behaved woman (mid 15c.), which is probably connected …   Etymology dictionary

  • rapscallion — *villain, scoundrel, blackguard, knave, rascal, rogue, scamp, miscreant Analogous words: *vagabond, vagrant, tramp, hobo, bum …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • rapscallion — ► NOUN archaic or humorous ▪ a mischievous person. ORIGIN alteration of earlier rascallion, perhaps from RASCAL(Cf. ↑rascally) …   English terms dictionary

  • rapscallion — [rap skal′yən] n. [< earlier rascallion, extension of RASCAL] a rascal; rogue …   English World dictionary

  • rapscallion — noun /ɹæpˈskæljən/ a) A rascal, scamp, rogue, or scoundrel. She was the sister who had remained within the pale; I, the rapscallion of a brother whose vagaries were trying to his relations. b) Roguish, disreputable …   Wiktionary

  • rapscallion — noun Etymology: alteration of earlier rascallion, irregular from rascal Date: 1699 rascal, ne er do well …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rapscallion — /rap skal yeuhn/, n. a rascal; rogue; scamp. [1690 1700; earlier rascallion, based on RASCAL] * * * …   Universalium

  • rapscallion — Synonyms and related words: bad boy, blackguard, booger, buffoon, bugger, cutup, devil, elf, enfant terrible, funmaker, hood, hoodlum, hooligan, imp, joker, jokester, knave, limb, little devil, little monkey, little rascal, minx, mischief,… …   Moby Thesaurus

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