rascal

Where does the word "rascal" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin rasicare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Rascal’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: rasicare meant “to scrape.” A scraping, from 'radere', to scrape. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as rascaille. The scrapings of society, a mob. It reached English by 1300s as rascal. Softened to a cheeky, mischievous person. Today, rascal means a mischievous or cheeky person.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient rasicare "to scrape", a scraping, from 'radere', to scrape.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval rascaille "rabble", the scrapings of society, a mob.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s rascal "rabble", softened to a cheeky, mischievous person.