scalawag

[ skal-uh-wag ]
See synonyms for scalawag on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a scamp; rascal.

  2. U.S. History. a native white Southerner who collaborated with the occupying forces during Reconstruction, often for personal gain.

Origin of scalawag

1
An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; origin uncertain
  • Also scal·ly·wag [skal-ee-wag]; /ˈskæl iˌwæg/; especially British, scal·la·wag .

Other words from scalawag

  • scal·a·wag·ger·y, noun
  • scal·a·wag·gy, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scalawag in a sentence

  • He had the Governor appoint a white sheriff, a young scallawag from the mountains who was a noted moonshiner and desperado.

    The Clansman | Thomas Dixon
  • She had almost forgotten her purpose so taken up was she in observing this “scallawag,” as Mrs. Ransford had called him.

    The Golden Woman | Ridgwell Cullum
  • And promptly she set this new phase down to the result of her associations with the young “scallawag” Buck.

    The Golden Woman | Ridgwell Cullum
  • What cleverness the mother and scallawag of an uncle had shown to have kept the child in ignorance all these years!

    The Carpet from Bagdad | Harold MacGrath
  • He seemed to be even deferring to this aged scallawag of a chief, as though he were some one of importance.

    The Triumph of John Kars | Ridgwell Cullum

British Dictionary definitions for scalawag

scalawag

/ (ˈskæləˌwæɡ) /


noun
  1. a variant of scallywag

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