scamp

[ skamp ]

noun

1. an unscrupulous and often mischievous person; rascal; rogue; scalawag.
2. a playful, mischievous, or naughty young person; upstart.
3. a grouper, Mycteroperca phenax, of Florida: so called from its habit of stealing bait.

verb (used with object)

1. to do or perform in a hasty or careless manner:

   to scamp work.

scamp

¹

/ skæmp /

noun

1. an idle mischievous person; rascal
2. a mischievous child

scamp

²

/ skæmp /

verb

1. a less common word for skimp

Derived Forms

• ˈscampish, adjective
• ˈscamper, noun

Other Words From

• scamper noun
• scamping·ly adverb
• scampish adjective
• scampish·ly adverb
• scampish·ness noun
• un·scamped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scamp¹

1775–85; obsolete scamp to travel about idly or for mischief, perhaps < obsolete Dutch schampen to be gone < Old French escamper to decamp

Word History and Origins

Origin of scamp¹

C18: from scamp (vb) to be a highway robber, probably from Middle Dutch schampen to decamp, from Old French escamper, from es- ex- ¹+ -camper, from Latin campus field

Example Sentences

Yoyo and Scamp are the 53rd and 54th recipients of the award.

From BBC

He saw a man whose self-image was forged through a lifetime of deference from those around him, and who played up to his tabloid image as a “naughty scamp” – “Randy Andy” in his bachelor youth, “Air Miles Andy” in his role as a British trade emissary.

From Seattle Times

Flamboyant and gregarious, Mr. Del Tredici cultivated a reputation as a beloved scamp who did what he wanted.

From New York Times

He cultivated a reputation as a beloved scamp who did what he wanted.

From New York Times

What the host and producers of “Meghan McCain Has Entered the Chat” thought the public would gain from spending an hour with a serial liar remains as much of a puzzle as the purpose of Santos' spontaneous 100-yard scamp trot.

From Salon