rascal

== English == === Etymology === Recorded since c.1330, as Middle English rascaile (“people of the lowest class, rabble of an army”), derived from 12th century Old French rascaille (“outcast, rabble”) (modern French racaille), perhaps from rasque (“mud, filth, scab, dregs”), from Vulgar Latin *rasicō (“to scrape”). The singular form is first attested in 1461; the present extended sense of "low, dishonest person" is from early 1586. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɹɑːskl̩/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɹæskl̩/ Rhymes: -ɑːskəl, -æskəl Hyphenation: ras‧cal === Noun === rascal (plural rascals) A dishonest person; a rogue, a scoundrel, a trickster. (often diminutively) A cheeky person or creature; a troublemaker. (Papua New Guinea) A member of a criminal gang. ==== Synonyms ==== (dishonest person; rogue): see Thesaurus:villain (cheeky person): devil, imp, mischief-maker, scamp, scoundrel; see also Thesaurus:troublemaker ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === rascal (comparative more rascal, superlative most rascal) (archaic) Low; lowly, part of or belonging to the common rabble. ==== Derived terms ==== rascality rascally rascalry ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === Rascal in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911) === Anagrams === Claars, craals, lascar, sacral, sarlac, scalar