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Definition of scarper

scarper

/ˈskɑːrpər/
scar · per
Past Simple:scarpered
•
Past Participle:scarpered
•
Present Participle:scarpering
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scarper Lexical Profile

scarper Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

British To run away or leave hastily, especially to avoid trouble or capture.

Example

"The mischievous teenagers scarpered as soon as the neighbor stepped onto the porch."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for scarper

• Rhymes for scarper

• Nearby Words

scarlet sage
scarlet snake
scarlet tanager
scarper
scarred
scarring
scarved

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in 19th-century Polari and theatrical slang, the word is likely borrowed from the Italian 'scappare' ('to escape'), or possibly derived from Cockney rhyming slang 'Scapa Flow' for 'go'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Scarper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/scarper
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