- Today's Word
Rapscallion
[rap-SKAL-yun]
Definition
- (noun) A mischievous or unruly person, typically referring to someone who is playfully naughty or engages in minor wrongdoing. It’s often used affectionately to describe a rascal or a person with a roguish charm.
Example
Despite his tendency to cause trouble, the little rapscallion’s infectious grin and clever wit made him a favorite among the neighbors.
Fun Fact
The word “rapscallion” is believed to have originated in the late 16th century as an alteration of the earlier term “rascallion,” which itself was a fanciful elaboration of “rascal.” Over time, it has maintained its connotation of mischievous behavior but has generally lost the more serious implications of villainy that it sometimes carried in earlier usage.
(adjective) Abrupt or offhand in speech or manner; bluntly short to the point of rudeness.
His brusque response left the new intern unsure whether she’d said something wrong or if that was just how he talked to everyone.