scamp

American  

[skamp] / skæmp /

noun

1. an unscrupulous and often mischievous person; rascal; rogue; scalawag.

2. a playful, mischievous, or naughty young person; upstart.

3. a grouper, Mycteroperca phenax, of Florida: so called from its habit of stealing bait.

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verb (used with object)

scamps, present (3rd person singular) scamped, past participle, past scamping present participle

1. to do or perform in a hasty or careless manner.

   to scamp work.

scamp ¹ British  

/ skæmp /

noun

1. an idle mischievous person; rascal

2. a mischievous child

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scamp ² British  

/ skæmp /

verb

1. a less common word for skimp

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scampingly
  adverb
• scampishly
  adverb
• scamper
  noun
• unscamped
  adjective
• scampish
  adjective
• scampishness
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has scamped
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have scamped
  perfect
• have been scamping
  perfect progressive
• has been scamping
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is scamping
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are scamping
  progressive
• am scamping
  progressive 1st person singular
• scamping
  participle
• scamps
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had scamped
  perfect
• was scamping
  progressive singular
• had been scamping
  perfect progressive
• scamped
  simple
• scamped
  participle
• were scamping
  progressive plural

Future

• will scamp
  simple
• will have scamped
  perfect
• will be scamping
  progressive
• will have been scamping
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of scamp

1775–85; obsolete scamp to travel about idly or for mischief, perhaps < obsolete Dutch schampen to be gone < Old French escamper to decamp

Example Sentences

But for now he is a jovial Irish scamp, with the merest hint of a dark streak; where Sherlock comes from money, James, as he’s called here, is at school on a scholarship.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Throughout his career, he delighted in being a newsroom scamp.

From Washington Post • Sep. 27, 2022

Still in his younger scamp days, George W. Bush lifted his pant leg to show off his cowboy boots and proudly declared that he was the black sheep of the family.

From New York Times • Sep. 8, 2022

Is he the playful scamp who once gave an underling a piggyback ride after a rocket engine test?

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2021

The long-lost scamp had become a frequent visitor once more, usually with an adorable troika of squirrel babies scampering behind, and another grown-up-sized squirrel, too.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood