rascal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
    varlet; rapscallion; scallywag; rogue; knave; scalawag.
  2. noun one who is playfully mischievous
    monkey; rapscallion; scallywag; imp; scamp; scalawag.

WordNet

Ras"cal noun
Etymology
OE. rascaille rabble, probably from an OF. racaille, F. racaille the rabble, rubbish, probably akin to F. racler to scrape, (assumed) LL. rasiculare, rasicare, fr. L. radere, rasum. See Rase, v.
Definitions
  1. One of the rabble; a low, common sort of person or creature; collectively, the rabble; the common herd; also, a lean, ill-conditioned beast, esp. a deer. Obs.
    He smote of the people seventy men, and fifty thousand of the rascal. Wyclif (1 Kings [1 Samuel] vi. 19).
    Poor men alone? No, no; the noblest deer hath them [horns] as huge as the rascal. Shak.
  2. A mean, trickish fellow; a base, dishonest person; a rogue; a scoundrel; a trickster.
    For I have sense to serve my turn in store, And he's a rascal who pretends to more. Dryden.
Ras`cal adjective
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to the common herd or common people; low; mean; base. "The rascal many." Spencer. "The rascal people." Shak.
    While she called me rascal fiddler. Shak.

Webster 1913