rascal

noun

ras·​cal ˈra-skÉ™l How to pronounce rascal (audio)
Synonyms of rascalnext
1
: a mean, unprincipled, or dishonest person
2
: a mischievous person or animal
rascal adjective

Synonyms

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Examples of rascal in a Sentence

Which one of you rascals woke me up?
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.
Orange cats have earned an online reputation for being chaotic, energetic rascals. —Gayoung Lee, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024 Eventually, Sergei — now going by Kraven — begins knocking off a growing list of poachers, corporate rascals and international kingpins. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Dec. 2024 Yep, this little rascal figured out how to twist and press the hose to interrupt Mary’s shower time. —Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2024 Reynolds thrived in front of a live studio audience, playing a college-age rascal who was more interested in messing with his friends and pursuing harebrained schemes than deciding on a major. —Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rascal 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rascaile, rascaille, borrowed from Anglo-French rascaille, rascail "rabble," from rasc- (perhaps from Old French —Norman and Picard— *rasquer "to scratch, scrape," going back to Vulgar Latin *rÄ?sicÄ?re) + -aille, collective suffix, going back to Latin -Ä?lia — more at rash entry 1, -al entry 2

Note: Though this etymology works semantically (cf., for example, the sense development of English scum, Russian svoloÄ?'), it is unclear if *rasquer is a possible outcome of *rÄ?sicÄ?re in Norman/Picard. Note that the word is exclusively Anglo-Norman in earlier Medieval French (from the twelfth century), from which it appears to have penetrated into other dialects (see Französisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, vol. 10, pp. 88-89).

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rascal was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rascal

rascacio

rascal

rascaldom

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Cite this Entry

“Rascal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rascal. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

rascal

noun
ras·​cal ˈras-kÉ™l How to pronounce rascal (audio)
1
: a mean or dishonest person
2
: a mischievous person

More from Merriam-Webster on rascal

Nglish: Translation of rascal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of rascal for Arabic Speakers

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