scalawag
- noun
- /ˈskæləˌwæɡ/
- Informal
- The children giggled as the little scalawag hid behind the tree, waiting to surprise their friends.
And, and we'll be covering those two scallywags too.
- And, and we'll be covering those two scallywags too.
Examples
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I'll be so courteous you won't recognize me and my scalawag heart.
Fiction book (1999) -
Jonson's not bad for everyday scalawags, but Shakespeare...
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Stay out of trouble, ya old scalawag.
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Stay out of trouble, ya old scalawag.
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And yeah, we're just two loving scallywags with healthy lymphatic systems.
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You old scalawag.
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With a mischievous grin, the young scalawag plotted his next playful prank on his unsuspecting siblings.
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Despite his reputation as a scalawag, everyone loved his playful spirit and clever tricks.
Synonyms
A playful child who likes to play tricks
A person who behaves badly or dishonestly yet is often liked by others
A person, often a child, who acts in a playful, naughty way
A person, often a child, who plays tricks and causes small trouble
A person who plays tricks and causes small trouble
A child who plays tricks and behaves in a naughty way
A small child who makes trouble in a playful way
A young person who is playful, noisy, and often breaks rules
A person who plays small, playful tricks while being charming
A lively child who likes to climb and play noisy games
A person who acts in a silly, playful way
Antonyms
Compounds
How Mischievous
- Informal
- Informal
Surface Forms
Etymology
Scalawag in a friendly sense comes from the older slang scallywag, which means 'rascal' or 'mischief-maker'. A helpful way to remember this is that calling a child a scalawag is a teasing, warm way to say they are naughty but lovable.