scamp

Etymology

Old French escamper (“to run away, to make one's escape”)

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -æmp

Noun

scamp (plural scamps)

1. A rascal, swindler, or rogue; a ne'er-do-well.
2. A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster.

   My nephew is a little scamp who likes to leave lighted firecrackers under the lawnchairs of his dozing elders.

   While walking home from the bar, he was set upon by a bunch of scamps who stole his hat.

Verb

scamp (third-person singular simple present scamps, present participle scamping, simple past and past participle scamped)

1. (dated) To skimp; to do something in a skimpy or slipshod fashion.
   • 1884, Samuel Smiles, Men of Invention and Industry

     His work was always first-rate. There was no scamping about it. Everything that he did was thoroughly good and honest.

   • 1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 3, in Well Tackled!‎:

     “They know our boats will stand up to their work,” said Willison, “and that counts for a good deal. A low estimate from us doesn't mean scamped work, but just for that we want to keep the yard busy over a slack time.”

Anagrams

• camps