noun
scamp
SKAMP
noun
1
A mischievous but likeable person, especially a playful child.
"That little scamp hid my keys again."
2
A dishonest person; a rogue or swindler.
"The old con man was a well-known scamp around town."
verb
1
To do something carelessly or half-heartedly.
"He scamped the report and it showed in the sloppy errors."
How to Use Scamp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually a fondly mischievous person, though it can also mean a swindler or describe sloppy, rushed work.
When to use it
The "mischievous child" sense is affectionate rather than harsh.
Word Forms
scamped past tense, scamps plural, scamps plural, scamps singular
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That little _____ hid my keys again.
Etymology
From Old French escamper, "to escape," itself from Vulgar Latin roots meaning "to flee the field" — related to "escape."