Rascally
/ˈræs.kə.li/noun
Behaving like a rogue; mischievously dishonest or cheeky.
Did you know?Rascally ultimately traces back to a Germanic root meaning “to scrape” or “scratch,” which fed into the idea of a ragged, worthless person before becoming a playful insult.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reg-
“to scrape, scratch, or rub”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*raskaz
“quick, nimble; later also rough or rash”
Middle Dutch
Dutch
rascael / rascall
“a low person; a rogue or scoundrel”
Middle French
French
rascaille
“rabble, riffraff, the crowd of worthless people”
Late Middle English
English
rascaille
“a rascal; a base or mean person”
Modern English
English
rascally
“mischievous, dishonest, or playfully rogue-like”