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View synonyms for scamp

scamp

[ skamp ]

noun

  1. an unscrupulous and often mischievous person; rascal; rogue; scalawag.
  2. a playful, mischievous, or naughty young person; upstart.
  3. a grouper, Mycteroperca phenax, of Florida: so called from its habit of stealing bait.


verb (used with object)

  1. to do or perform in a hasty or careless manner:

    to scamp work.

scamp

1

/ skæmp /

verb

  1. See skimp
    a less common word for skimp


scamp

2

/ skæmp /

noun

  1. an idle mischievous person; rascal
  2. a mischievous child

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Derived Forms

  • ˈscamper, noun
  • ˈscampish, adjective

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Other Words From

  • scamper noun
  • scamping·ly adverb
  • scampish adjective
  • scampish·ly adverb
  • scampish·ness noun
  • un·scamped adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of scamp1

1775–85; obsolete scamp to travel about idly or for mischief, perhaps < obsolete Dutch schampen to be gone < Old French escamper to decamp

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Word History and Origins

Origin of scamp1

C18: from scamp (vb) to be a highway robber, probably from Middle Dutch schampen to decamp, from Old French escamper, from es- ex- 1+ -camper, from Latin campus field

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Example Sentences

Fortnum is well behaved, but Mason appears to be a little more of a scamp.

Meanwhile Mr. Crow had been thinking rapidly—for he was a quick-witted old scamp.

There was a scamp of a father who had "not been very kind" to Angel, and had been lost, or had thoughtfully lost himself.

Do you remember a young girl and a tall scamp who wanted to carry you along to Palestine?

The impudent scamp who gave that order deserves to receive as many lashes as his horse has hairs in his tail!

I saw Mary Belle transformed from an ordinary playful scamp of a lamb to a primped and perfect darling of the show-ring.

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scammonyscamper