rapscallion
noun
People WeeklyNora LeeStephanie Hill
Did you know?
The word rascal has been part of English since the 15th century, but it apparently failed to fully capture the disagreeable nature of the wily knaves of yore: by the 16th century, English speakers had expanded rascal to rascallion. But it seems that even that term didn’t sound quite mischievous enough. Eventually, rascallion was further altered, resulting in the snappier, plosive-enhanced rapscallion, which is still commonly used as a synonym for varlet, scoundrel, and rogue. And although rapscallion has zero connection with scallion, it does add a figuratively spicy kick to one’s speech, not unlike chawbacon and other cheeky insults that may be of interest and use.
Synonyms
Examples of rapscallion in a Sentence
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 14 June 2024
Renée Zellweger is set to return as the lovable but flailing at life Jones as is Hugh Grant as rapscallion Daniel Cleaver.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Klay, that other young rapscallion, is Kyle’s assistant quarterbacks coach with the Niners.
—Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024
Devers’s list also includes Harlond Clift, who with a name like that couldn’t have been a ballplayer, but an actor who, oh, probably portrayed a rapscallion of a love interest for Bette Davis in a series of 1930s films.
—Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2023
That rapscallion Demna Gvasalia has done it again.
—Vulture, 6 July 2022
View Photos As an out-and-out rapscallion, the quiet-riot GLI ridicules ostensibly more sporting machinery.
—Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 15 Mar. 2023
This jaunty rapscallion is one of nine built, and competed in the Mille Miglia only five days after it was delivered.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2022
Top Stories Not so long ago, Montana rapscallion Stu Long’s pursuit of venal success would have been sold as a redemption story.
—Armond White, National Review, 20 Apr. 2022
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Cite this Entry
“Rapscallion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapscallion. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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rapscallion
noun
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