rapscallion

noun

rap·scal·lion rap-ˈskal-yən

plural rapscallions

Synonyms of rapscallion next

: a person who causes trouble : rascal, ne'er-do-well

If a little prince with a permissive nanny can get bumptious on occasion, a regal rapscallion without any nanny could fast become a royal pain.—People Weekly

The kidnapper is none other than the nefarious Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman), who still hasn't gotten over the loss of his hand. That rapscallion Peter Pan is to blame, and Hook will have his revenge.—Nora Lee

Growing up, my best friends were my siblings. While we fought like only brother and sisters could fight, I was quick to defend their honor, or protect them from the rapscallion of our childhood world.—Stephanie Hill

Did you know?

The word rascal has been part of English since the 15th century, but it apparently failed to fully capture the disagreeable nature of the wily knaves of yore: by the 16th century, English speakers had expanded rascal to rascallion. But it seems that even that term didn’t sound quite mischievous enough. Eventually, rascallion was further altered, resulting in the snappier, plosive-enhanced rapscallion, which is still commonly used as a synonym for varlet, scoundrel, and rogue. And although rapscallion has zero connection with scallion, it does add a figuratively spicy kick to one’s speech, not unlike chawbacon and other cheeky insults that may be of interest and use.

Examples of rapscallion in a Sentence

the city's run-down waterfront was occupied mostly by disreputable places frequented by drunkards and rapscallions that little rapscallion kept hiding my shoes and making me go look for them

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Ever since her husband died from a bee sting, the matriarch has smoothly guided her octet of rapscallions through proposals, scandals, and balloon disasters. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 14 June 2024 Renée Zellweger is set to return as the lovable but flailing at life Jones as is Hugh Grant as rapscallion Daniel Cleaver. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024 Klay, that other young rapscallion, is Kyle’s assistant quarterbacks coach with the Niners. —Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024 Devers’s list also includes Harlond Clift, who with a name like that couldn’t have been a ballplayer, but an actor who, oh, probably portrayed a rapscallion of a love interest for Bette Davis in a series of 1930s films. —Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2023 That rapscallion Demna Gvasalia has done it again. —Vulture, 6 July 2024 View Photos As an out-and-out rapscallion, the quiet-riot GLI ridicules ostensibly more sporting machinery. —Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 15 Mar. 2023 This jaunty rapscallion is one of nine built, and competed in the Mille Miglia only five days after it was delivered. —Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2022 Top Stories Not so long ago, Montana rapscallion Stu Long’s pursuit of venal success would have been sold as a redemption story. —Armond White, National Review, 20 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier rascallion, irregular from rascal

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of rapscallion was in 1648

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rapscallion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapscallion. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

rapscallion

noun

rap·scal·lion rap-ˈskal-yən

: rascal

Last Updated: 7 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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rapscallion

noun

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Examples of rapscallion in a Sentence

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