n.
Pronunciation: ' ras-k ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English rascaile foot soldiers, commoners, worthless person, from Anglo-French rascaille, from Old French dialect (Norman & Picard) *rasquer to scrape, clean off, from Vulgar Latin *rasicare
Date: 15th century
1 : a mean, unprincipled, or dishonest person
2 : a mischievous person or animal
– rascal adjective