scallywag
scallywag Lexical Profile
scallywag Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person, especially a child or young person, who behaves badly or mischievously, typically used in a humorous or affectionate way.
"The grandfather laughed and called his grandson a little scallywag after finding the hidden cookies."
American A white Southerner who collaborated with northern Republicans during the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War, often used disparagingly by opponents.
"Historians have re-examined the complex political motives of Southern unionists who were labeled as scallywags during Reconstruction."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Scallywag' is the standard British and Australian spelling, whereas 'scalawag' is preferred in American English, especially when referring to the historical Reconstruction-era political term.
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in mid-19th-century American slang as 'scalawag', possibly connected to the Scottish dialect word 'scurryvaig' (a vagabond) or to Scalloway in the Shetland Islands, which was known for breeding small, undersized ponies and cattle.