Scalawag
noun
A person who behaves badly but in an amusingly mischievous rather than harmful way.
Despite his annoying pranks, his classmates couldn't help but laugh at the scalawag.
Often appears as...
- little scalawag
- such a scalawag
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A white Southerner who collaborated with northern Republicans during the post-Civil War reconstruction period.
Many saw him as a scalawag for siding with the northerners after the Civil War.
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Historical
noun
A person who behaves badly but in an amusingly mischievous rather than harmful way.
Despite his annoying pranks, his classmates couldn't help but laugh at the scalawag.
Often appears as...
- little scalawag
- such a scalawag
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A white Southerner who collaborated with northern Republicans during the post-Civil War reconstruction period.
Many saw him as a scalawag for siding with the northerners after the Civil War.
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Historical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Usage
Used in casual conversations rather than formal speech or writing.
When he hid my phone, I called him a scalawag.
Pro Tip 2/3Playful Connotation
Implies playful misbehavior, not serious wrongdoing.
That scalawag always has a twinkle in his eye.
Pro Tip 3/3Endearing Term
Often used affectionately for someone who is mischievous.
Come here, you little scalawag!
Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Usage
Used in casual conversations rather than formal speech or writing.
When he hid my phone, I called him a scalawag.
Pro Tip 2/3Playful Connotation
Implies playful misbehavior, not serious wrongdoing.
That scalawag always has a twinkle in his eye.
Pro Tip 3/3Endearing Term
Often used affectionately for someone who is mischievous.
Come here, you little scalawag!
Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Usage
Used in casual conversations rather than formal speech or writing.
When he hid my phone, I called him a scalawag.
Pro Tip 2/3Playful Connotation
Implies playful misbehavior, not serious wrongdoing.
That scalawag always has a twinkle in his eye.
Pro Tip 3/3Endearing Term
Often used affectionately for someone who is mischievous.
Come here, you little scalawag!
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