rascal

ras·cal

noun \ˈras-kəl\

Definition of RASCAL

1

: a mean, unprincipled, or dishonest person

2

: a mischievous person or animal

— rascal adjective

Examples of RASCAL

1. Which one of you rascals woke me up?
2. <some cold-blooded rascal had set the barn afire, killing all of the horses>

Origin of RASCAL

Middle English rascaile foot soldiers, commoners, worthless person, from Anglo-French rascaille, from Old French dialect (Norman & Picard) *rasquer to scrape, clean off, from Vulgar Latin *rasicare

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to RASCAL

Synonyms

baddie (or baddy), beast, brute, caitiff, devil, evildoer, fiend, heavy, hound, knave, meanie (also meany), miscreant, monster, nazi, no-good, rapscallion, villain, reprobate, rogue, savage, scalawag (or scallywag), scamp, scapegrace, scoundrel, varlet, wretch

Related Words

villainess; blackguard; criminal, crook, culprit, felon, lawbreaker, malefactor, offender, perp, perpetrator, transgressor; sinner, trespasser, wrongdoer; cad, heel, serpent, snake, viper; bandit, bravo, desperado, outlaw; con, convict, jailbird; assassin, cutthroat, gangster, goon, gunman, hoodlum, hooligan, racketeer, ruffian, thug; rough, rowdy, tough; loser, lowlife, ne'er-do-well, stinker, trash

Near Antonyms

angel, innocent, saint; hero

Rhymes with RASCAL

paschal