rascal

[ ras-kuhl ]
See synonyms for rascal on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a base, dishonest, or unscrupulous person.

  2. a mischievous person or animal: That child is a real rascal.

Origin of rascal

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English rascaile, raskaille, from Old French rascaille “rabble”; perhaps akin to rash2

synonym study For rascal

1. See knave.

Other words for rascal

Other words from rascal

  • ras·cal·like, adjective

Words Nearby rascal

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How to use rascal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rascal

rascal

/ (ˈrɑːskəl) /


noun
  1. a disreputable person; villain

  2. a mischievous or impish rogue

  1. an affectionate or mildly reproving term for a child or old man: you little rascal; the wicked old rascal kissed her

  2. obsolete a person of lowly birth

adjective
  1. (prenominal) obsolete

    • belonging to the mob or rabble

    • dishonest; knavish

Origin of rascal

1
C14: from Old French rascaille rabble, perhaps from Old Norman French rasque mud, filth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012