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Synonyms

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.


verb (used with object)

  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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

scamp 2 British  
/ skæmp /

verb

  1. a less common word for skimp

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The dogs — Yogi, Ruger, Jenny Wren, Lazarus, Scamp, Skeeter and Rooster — travel across the country with Rucker helping to track turtle populations and identify threats and diseases.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2021

Brennan waited for the crew and dogs to come over, and Scamp sniffed the turtle out and picked it up it gently in his mouth.

From Washington Times • Apr. 27, 2021

Johnnie Scamp must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, while the other two men must carry out 140 hours.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2020

On a recent day, the client is Nachusa Grasslands in Franklin Grove, Ill. Rucker and his seven dogs, Lazarus, Scamp, Mink, Jaybird, Jenny Wren, Rooster, and Tango, found 14 turtles in about an hour.

From Fox News • Jun. 26, 2019

Surely there was never a happier little dog went home that night than Scamp!

From The Children's Book of London by Mitton, G. E. (Geraldine Edith)