skellum

American  

[skel-uhm] / ˈskɛl əm /

noun

Chiefly Scot.

1. a rascal.

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skellum British  

/ ˈskɛləm /

noun

1. archaic a rogue

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Etymology

Origin of skellum

1605–15; < Dutch schelm rogue, knave < Middle Low German; cognate with German Schelm rogue, Old High German skelmo, scalmo plague, corpse

Example Sentences

Brown is of a generation with my parents, and grew up calling a chimney a lum, an ear a lug, a frog a puddock, and the likes of David Cameron, a sleekit skellum.

From The Guardian • Jun. 4, 2010

Now ev'ry sour-mou'd girnin blellum, And Calvin's folk, are fit to fell him; Ilk self-conceited critic skellum His quill may draw; He wha could brawlie ward their bellum— Willie's awa!

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Burns, Robert

Now ev’ry sour-mou’d girnin’ blellum, And Calvin’s fock are fit to fell him; And self-conceited critic skellum His quill may draw; He wha could brawlie ward their bellum, Willie’s awa!

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

‘Allah Crachty!’ says she, ‘but dat Ou’ Wolf is about de laziest skellum ever any woman wore herse’f out wid.

From Old Hendrik's Tales by Vaughan, Arthur Owen

“But, Ou’ Ta’,” demanded she at last, “did Ou’ Wolf never pay off Ou’ Jackalse for his skellum tricks?”

From Old Hendrik's Tales by Vaughan, Arthur Owen