Rascal Meaning
/ˈɹɑːskl̩/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA dishonest person; a rogue, a scoundrel, a trickster.
nounA cheeky person or creature; a troublemaker.
Sentence Examples
You're a right little rascal!
I got you, rascal!
What rascal dared to break the door to the royal room?
CEFR Practice Quiz
The little ____ snuck into the kitchen and stole cookies from the jar.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old man called the mischievous boy a ____ but smiled as he said it.
Word Origin & History
Recorded since c.1330, as Middle English rascaile (“people of the lowest class, rabble of an army”), derived from 12th century Old French rascaille (“outcast, rabble”) (modern French racaille), perhaps from rasque (“mud, filth, scab, dregs”), from Vulgar Latin *rasicō (“to scrape”). The singular form is first attested in 1461; the present extended sense of "low, dishonest person" is from early 1586.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Tuc[ca]. […] Can thy Author doe it impudently enough? / Hiſt[rio]. O, I warrant you, Captaine: and ſpitefully inough too; he ha's one of the moſt ouerflowing villanous wits, in Rome. He will ſlander any man that breathes; If he diſguſt him. / Tucca. I'le know the poor, egregious, nitty Raſcall; and he haue ſuch commendable Qualities, I'le cheriſh him: […]"
— 1601, Ben Jonson, Poetaster or The Arraignment: […], London: […] [R. Bradock] for M[atthew] L[ownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act III:
"And he smote Corinius on his shaven jowl with the dice box, calling him cheat and mangy rascal, whereupon Corinius drew forth a bodkin to smite him in the neck withal; […]"
— 1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 33:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The little ____ snuck into the kitchen and stole cookies from the jar.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old man called the mischievous boy a ____ but smiled as he said it.