Rapscallion

Not a word you hear everyday, is it?  But kind of fun!

Rapscallion - rap-SKAL-yen (1690-1700) refers to a person who is thought to be a scamp or a rascal.  It is an alternate use of the word rascallion (French origin).  Today, it is more common to hear the work rascal in place of rapscallion. The definition changes in context in tone slightly depending on the age of the person for which you refer. It is refers to a naughty child who is mischievous and playful. When an adult is called a rapscallion it refers to someone who is a scoundrel, a rogue and a deceitful, disreputable person.  Here are a few examples for how it is used: 

“That little rapscallion loves to hide my eye glasses and then watch with delight as I search blindly for them” 

“You must be careful walking downtown at night, for the pick pocket rapscallions are there looking for an easy target” 

Have a lovely week and be alert to the rapscallions who may be lurking around the corner.

“Take it all around, I was feeling ruther comfortable, on accounts of taking all this trouble for that gang, for not many would a done it.  I wished the widow knowed about it.  I judged she would be proud of me for helping these rapscallions, because rapscallions and dead beats is the kind the widow and good people takes the most interest in.”  Mark Twain