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# scallywag

noun (a scallywag, scallywags)

«scallywag» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (informal, old-fashioned, playful) A child or person who behaves badly but in a cheeky, likeable way; a rascal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scallywag/#m1)
2. (US history) After the American Civil War, "scalawag" was an insult for white Southerners who supported the Union government. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scallywag/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, grandparents might call a cheeky child "you little scallywag" with a smile. In stories, scallywags are mischievous characters, like pirates or naughty children. The US history sense is spelt "scalawag". Phrases: you little scallywag, a bunch of scallywags.

### Examples

- "Come here, you little scallywag!" laughed Grandad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scallywag/#x1)
- The puppy is a scallywag — he stole my sock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scallywag/#x2)
- A gang of scallywags knocked on doors and ran away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scallywag/#x3)
- The pirate captain was a lovable scallywag. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scallywag/#x4)
- My little brother is a real scallywag at bedtime. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scallywag/#x5)
- Those scallywags ate all the biscuits! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scallywag/#x6)

### Note

Usually affectionate, not a strong insult. Also spelt "scalawag" (US). Similar words: rascal, rogue, rapscallion, scamp.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «scallywag» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scallywag/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«scallywag» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scallywag.html) on Mova free.