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

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• scamping
  present
• scamped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• scamp
  simple
• scamps
  simple
• have scamped
  perfect
• has scamped
  perfect
• am scamping
  progressive
• are scamping
  progressive
• is scamping
  progressive
• have been scamping
  perfect progressive
• has been scamping
  perfect progressive

Past

• scamped
  simple
• had scamped
  perfect
• was scamping
  progressive
• were scamping
  progressive
• had been scamping
  perfect progressive

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

Flamboyant and gregarious, Mr. Del Tredici cultivated a reputation as a beloved scamp who did what he wanted.

From New York Times • Nov. 18, 2023

“We were in charge of cooking scamp and squid and putting plenty of garlic in it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2022

And I was exasperated when my firstborn started imitating the antics of that naughty scamp, particularly by upending her plate at the table.

From Washington Post • Mar. 16, 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

Somehow the furry scamp had avoided being torn to shreds by the children and had subsequently become Cassiopeia’s beloved pet, living on the tree branches outside the nursery windows.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood