scamp

[ skamp ]
/ skæmp /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR scamp ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an unscrupulous and often mischievous person; rascal; rogue; scalawag.
a playful, mischievous, or naughty young person; upstart.
a grouper, Mycteroperca phenax, of Florida: so called from its habit of stealing bait.

verb (used with object)

to do or perform in a hasty or careless manner: to scamp work.

Origin of scamp

1775–85; obsolete scamp to travel about idly or for mischief, perhaps < obsolete Dutch schampen to be gone < Old French escamper to decamp

OTHER WORDS FROM scamp

Words nearby scamp

scamander, scambaiting, scamillus, scammer, scammony, scamp, scamper, scampi, scamster, scamto, scan

Words related to scamp

liar, cheat, ruffian, villain, troublemaker, delinquent, mischief-maker, scoundrel, reprobate, hooligan, sneak, rogue, scalawag, shyster, fraud, trickster, rowdy, swindler, cheater, prankster

Example sentences from the Web for scamp

British Dictionary definitions for scamp (1 of 2)

scamp 1
/ (skæmp) /

noun

an idle mischievous person; rascal
a mischievous child

Derived forms of scamp

scampish, adjective

Word Origin for scamp

C18: from scamp (vb) to be a highway robber, probably from Middle Dutch schampen to decamp, from Old French escamper, from es- ex- 1 + -camper, from Latin campus field

British Dictionary definitions for scamp (2 of 2)

scamp 2
/ (skæmp) /

verb

a less common word for skimp

Derived forms of scamp

scamper, noun