rascal

[ ras-kuhl ]
See synonyms for rascal on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a base, dishonest, or unscrupulous person.

  2. a mischievous person or animal: That child is a real rascal.

Origin of rascal

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English rascaile, raskaille, from Old French rascaille “rabble”; perhaps akin to rash2

synonym study For rascal

1. See knave.

Other words for rascal

Other words from rascal

  • ras·cal·like, adjective

Words Nearby rascal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rascal in a sentence

  • He thought so, at least, as he laughed and agreed with her, saying Tony was an unscrupulous rascal at the best of times.

    The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
  • This rascal was owed a debt for the indignity he had offered the sahib in the village, and now he was paid in full.

    The Red Year | Louis Tracy
  • The most myopic of creatures could have seen that Anne was foolishly in love with her rascal husband.

  • It would do little or no good to acquaint the constable with their suspicion that the rascal might be the man named Cameron Smith.

    The Mystery at Putnam Hall | Arthur M. Winfield
  • I cant see your family suffer, for your wife is a nice woman, if you are a rascal!

British Dictionary definitions for rascal

rascal

/ (ˈrɑːskəl) /


noun
  1. a disreputable person; villain

  2. a mischievous or impish rogue

  1. an affectionate or mildly reproving term for a child or old man: you little rascal; the wicked old rascal kissed her

  2. obsolete a person of lowly birth

adjective
  1. (prenominal) obsolete

    • belonging to the mob or rabble

    • dishonest; knavish

Origin of rascal

1
C14: from Old French rascaille rabble, perhaps from Old Norman French rasque mud, filth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012