skellum

[ skel-uhm ]

noun

, Chiefly Scot.

1. a rascal.

skellum

/ ˈskɛləm /

noun

1. archaic.
   a rogue

Word History and Origins

Origin of skellum¹

1605–15; < Dutch schelm rogue, knave < Middle Low German; cognate with German Schelm rogue, Old High German skelmo, scalmo plague, corpse

Word History and Origins

Origin of skellum¹

C17: via Dutch from Old High German skelmo devil

Example Sentences

She tauld thee weel thou wast a skellum, A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum; That frae November till October, Ae market-day thou was nae sober; That ilka melder, wi' the miller, Thou sat as lang as thou had siller; That every naig was ca'd a shoe on, The smith and thee gat roaring fou on; That at the Lord's house, even on Sunday, Thou drank wi' Kirkton Jean till Monday.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1644, when Grenville deserted the parliamentary party, a proclamation was put out against him; in this there were attached to his name several offensive epithets, among them being skellum, a word probably derived from the German Schelm, a scoundrel.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence he is often called “skellum Grenville.”

From Project Gutenberg

“O the skellum!—O the scoundrel!—there is not a horse in the province that can catch him, and there is no one ready to follow him,” he shouted out to no one in particular as he splashed clumsily across the river against the stream.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, Miss Gray, so you have played me a nice little trick, letting that skellum steal my horse.

From Project Gutenberg