Rascal

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹɑːskl̩/

Definitions

1. A playful individual known for their cheeky behavior and sometimes dishonest actions combines a sense of humor with a penchant for mischief
2. A person who often engages in lighthearted pranks and mischief, also displaying a knack for trickery or deceit
3. An individual characterized by playful or naughty behavior who might bend rules with charm ; a person who behaves unscrupulously or deceives others

Etymology: Originally "rascal" was a collective noun, not a name for a single naughty child. Middle English "rascaile" (recorded from around 1330) meant the common people, especially the lowest class, or the rabble of an army. It came into English from Old French "rascaille," meaning outcast or rabble, which is now "racaille" in modern French. The French word is perhaps related to "rasque," meaning mud, filth or dregs, and ultimately to a Vulgar Latin verb meaning "to scrape." The sense shifted from crowd to individual over time. The singular form "rascal," meaning a low or dishonest person, appears in the record from 1461, and by the mid-1580s it was being applied to people of bad character. The slide from "the dregs of society" to "a mischievous little scamp" came later, as the insult softened into affectionate teasing, which is the sense we use today.

Synonyms: scamp, rogue

Antonyms: angel, saint