rascallyadv.adj.
/ˈrɑːskl̩i/, /ˈrɑːskəli/, /ˈraskl̩i/, /ˈraskəli/, U.S. /ˈræsk(ə)li/ A. adv.† 2. In an inferior manner; badly, wretchedly. Obsolete.
1. In an unprincipled or dishonest manner; roguishly. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > roguery > [adverb]
lorellya1475
knavishly1481
rascally1572
roguishly1611
scoundrelously1681
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [adverb]
lorellya1475
knavishly1481
rascally1572
knavelya1593
roguishly1611
scoundrelously1681
queerly1699
rapscallionly1699
scampishly1880
1572 J. Bridges tr. R. Gwalther Hundred, Threescore & Fiftene Homelyes vppon Actes Apostles xviii. 141 Their blindenesse, and slouthfulnesse is greatly to be bewayled, which..despise and neglect the publike prayers of the Church, yea, rascallye deride the holye assemblies which the Church hath ordeyned.
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Custome of Countrey iii. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) 12 Cannot a man fall into one of your drunken Cellers, And ventur the breaking on's neck, your trap-dores open But he must be us'd thus rascally?
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones III. viii. iii. 166 You have used me rascally, and I will not pay you a Farthing. View more context for this quotation
1752 W. Goodall Adventures Capt. Greenland II. iv. v. 44 This Mechanic-Fellow! who, by Heaven, shall soon partake of the dangerous Consequence of rascally attacking a Gentleman.
1799 W. Earle Nat. Faults i. 5 Devil burn me, if Blarney O'Neale will ever act so rascally as to run away with your mistress.
1824 Compl. Hist. Murder Mr. Weare App. 225 They two have used me rascally.
1907 Daily News 28 May 8 The Rev. Jabez Bell described ‘Primitivism’ as neither painfully poor nor rascally rich.
1933 Sun (Baltimore) 25 Mar. 6/7 My Twelve-Pound dictionary does not support Senator Glass, of Virginia, in the use of ‘rascally’ as an adverb, as when he referred to certain banking institutions as having been ‘rascally managed’.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > low rank or condition > the lowest class > [adverb]
rascally1596
raffishly1897
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. F In some mens incensed judgements it [sc. Piers Pennilesse] hath too much tongue alreadie; being aboue 2. yeres since maimedly translated into the French tongue, and in the English tongue so rascally printed and ill interpreted, as heart can thinke, or tongue can tell.
a1633 Visct. Falkland Hist. Edward II (1680) 128 A Garment..tatter'd rascally.
B. adj.
1.
a. Of a person or a group of people: belonging to the rabble or lowest social class. Now rare. Cf. rascal n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > low rank or condition > the lowest class > [adjective] > belonging to the rabble
rascala1450
rascally1592
ribble-rabble1598
riff-raff1598
tag-raga1616
rabblea1633
rag-tag1860
raggle-taggle1891
1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie xi. 118, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) The proud fawtor and captaine of this rebellious and rascally multitude, durst hatefully and most vndutifullye to beard the king in his owne presence.
1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 103 The base rabble, and rascally route of the world.
1661 S. Pepys Diary 15 Sept. (1970) II. 179 There was none of any Quality, but poor rasckally people.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant iii. 43 All the drudges and rascally People which Courts and Armies commonly draw after them.
1726 N. Amhurst Terræ-filius (ed. 2) xxxviii. 206 Amidst the insults and conclamations of a rascally mob.
1748 Love & Avarice 171 Suppose..I find myself..in no better a Station or Quality than the humble ragged Wife of a rascally Footman?
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Traffick, lumber, trash. ‘There wor a deal of oud traffick to sell’... Rabble, low, rascally people, the canaille.
1905 G. B. Shaw Major Barbara (1907) iii. 278 Dont listen to his metaphysics, Barbara. The place is driven by the most rascally part of society..; and he is their slave.
1966 Jrnl. Farm Econ. 48 1193 Low, rascally sort of people.
b. Small, insignificant. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > baseness > [adjective]
theowlikec1175
wickc1175
wretcha1200
lechera1300
vilea1300
feeblea1325
brothely1330
caitiffa1400
roinousa1425
basec1450
harlotry1486
filthy1533
brockish1546
vild1568
tinkerly?1576
scabbed?1577
miscreant1593
unnoble1593
slavish1597
rascally1600
roguish1601
sordidous1602
facinoriousa1616
scullion1658
dirty1670
shabbed1674
shabby1679
scoundrel1681
scabby1712
verminating1720
small1824
low-down1865
verminiferous1895
ragtime1917
ribby1936
raunchy1937
scungy1966
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > paltry, mean, or contemptible
unworthlyc1230
wretcha1250
seely1297
vilec1320
not worth a cress (kerse)1377
the value of a rushc1380
threadbarec1412
wretched1450
miserable?a1513
rascal1519
prettya1522
not worth a whistlea1529
pegrall1535
plack1539
pelting1540
scald1542
sleeveless1551
baggage1553
paltering1553
piddling1559
twopenny1560
paltry1565
rubbish1565
baggagely1573
pelfish1577
halfpenny1579
palting1579
baubling1581
three-halfpenny1581
pitiful1582
triobolar1585
squirting1589
not worth a lousea1592
hedge1596
cheap1597
peddling1597
dribbling1600
mean1600
rascally1600
three-farthingc1600
draughty1602
dilute1605
copper1609
peltry?a1610
threepenny1613
pelsy1631
pimping1640
triobolary1644
pigwidgeon1647
dustya1649
fiddling1652
puddlinga1653
insignificant1658
piteous1667
snotty1681
scrubbed1688
dishonourable1699
scrub1711
footy1720
fouty1722
rubbishing1731
chuck-farthing1748
rubbishy1753
shabby1753
scrubby1754
poxya1758
rubbishly1777
waff-like1808
trinkety1817
meanish1831
one-eyed1843
twiddling1844
measly1847
poking1850
picayunish1852
vild1853
picayune1856
snide1859
two-cent1859
rummagy1872
faddling1883
finicking1886
slushy1889
twopence halfpenny1890
jerk1893
pissy1922
crappy1928
two-bit1932
piddly1933
chickenshit1934
pissing1937
penny packet1943
farkakte1960
pony1964
gay1978
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > wretchedness > wretched thing > [adjective]
litherc1000
unornlyOE
unwrasta1122
unornc1175
lewd1362
rascal1519
rascally1600
ratty1867
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique iii. xviii. 462 All the small and rascallie sort of fruit which you shall find vpon them.
1673 J. Dryden Amboyna ii. i. 22 The Title [sc. High & Mighty] is ridiculous; for High is no more proper for the Neatherlands then Mighty is for seven little rascally Provinces.
1732 J. Whaley Coll. Poems 115 Without whimp'ring, or adding one rascally Pish, Prithee step, and bring hither the rest of my Fish.
1780 ‘Integer’ Lett. to High & Mighty United States Amer. ii. 18 Let us have no dabbling in such rascally little sums.
1810 R. Heber Let. 25 Dec. in Heber Lett. (1950) vii. 237 The part of your scheme which I like the least is making the library a partaker of your festivities... Remember also what a rascally little fireplace it contains.
1997 Harper's Mag. Dec. 74 I had always been the family pip-squeak—rascally, pigeon-toed, with a shrill laugh like a tea kettle hitting a boil.
2. Unprincipled or dishonest in character or conduct; untrustworthy, roguish. Later in weakened sense: mischievous, cheeky.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > roguery > [adjective]
pautenerc1330
palliard1484
limmer?a1513
limmerful?a1513
slovenly?1518
knavish1552
patchingc1555
rascal1566
roguing1566
knaifatic1568
roguish1572
rascally1586
land-loping1587
Scanderbegging1593
cullionly1608
rogorous1609
loseling1624
scoundrel1643
schelmish1654
pickled1683
rapscallionly1699
scoundrelish1705
rapscallion1711
pickle1774
scoundrelly1790
picaresque1822
furciferous1823
scapegrace1830
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [adjective]
pautenerc1330
palliard1484
varletc1485
knavisha1492
limmer?a1513
limmerful?a1513
briberous?1536
patchingc1555
rascal1566
roguing1566
roguish1575
arrant1581
skybala1585
rascally1586
land-loping1587
shag-ragc1590
Scanderbegging1593
Scanderbeg1601
rogorous1609
rogueya1627
scoundrel1643
schelmish1654
skelm1673
rapscallionly1699
rapscallion1711
scoundrelly1790
furciferous1823
scapegrace1830
1586 G. Whetstone Eng. Myrror xiv. 174 God shortly sent an vnkindly death to the chiefe scourge in this persecution, and with the gallowes confounded the most of ye rascally Atheists his executioners.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) ii. ii. 255 At that time the iealious-rascally-knaue her husband will be forth. View more context for this quotation
1682 London Gaz. No. 1688/4 Some rascally Boys (whom we call here Coal stealers).
1720 D. Manley Power of Love v. 282 Didst thou not tell me Wretch, and insure it to me, that thou wouldst shew me this Lady, and my Rascally Clerk in Bed together?
1752 D. Hume Polit. Disc. x. 188 Our common soldiers are such a low rascally set of people.
1782 H. B. Dudley Dramatic Puffers 18 Fly hence, ye rascally retailers of ill founded reputation!
1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. vii. 195 I have so often warned you of the knavery of that rascally quack.
1887 Spectator 5 Nov. 1496 The mock-marriage effected with the connivance of a rascally valet.
1937 D. L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon 27 His father caught him with his pocket full of rabbits after a night out with that rascally old poacher Merryweather.
1963 Victoria (Texas) Advocate 25 Aug. 3/1 Some rascally Boy Scouts sneaked in and booby-trapped the girls latrine.
2007 Express (Nexis) 9 July tv1 43 The Sting..is an equally engaging tale of rascally outlaws who make a decent living parting suckers from their ill-gotten gains.
3. Characteristic of a rascal.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [adjective] > specifically of actions, qualities, etc.
roguish1572
whelpish1586
rascally1587
loseling1624
scoundrel1681
scoundrelish1705
picaresque1822
1587 T. Newton tr. A. Hyperius True Tryall Mans Owne Selfe (new ed.) iv. 96 Whether thou hast vsed anie ribald talke, or raskallie words of scurrilitie, tending to the praise of lust, and prouocation of lecherie.
1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor i. iii. sig. C2 These same abhominable, vile,..rascally verses. View more context for this quotation
a1677 I. Barrow Of Love of God (1680) 222 As it is a raskally delight..which men feel in wreaking spite.
1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 20 By a rascally Recommendation to the Board, he endeavours to reward him at the publick Cost.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. 214 I know all his rascally Practices.
1781 T. Holcroft Duplicity v. ii. 72 Have you not taken a vile, a rascally advantage of the want of temper in the man, for whom you profest the most perfect friendship?
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. viii. 166 A rascally calumny, which I was determined to probe to the bottom.
1862 Mrs. H. Wood Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles i. xvii. 94 This is not the first time he has attempted a rascally action under cover of my name.
1904 J. London Sea-wolf vi. 55 The hunters..were..notorious for their quarrelsome and rascally proclivities.
1933 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 13 Feb. 8/5 A damned rascally trick to play on a gentle man.
1991 P. J. O'Rourke Parl. of Whores (1992) 96 The Reagan administration slashed the federal budget in a rascally attack upon the poor and disadvantaged.
2002 A. Phillips Prague iv. viii. 335 His face sharply top-lit, on the Blue Jazz stage,..his lips curled into a rascally, lascivious semi-smile.
4. Wretched, miserable; of poor quality.
ΚΠ
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. iii. 104 A whorson rascally tisick, so troubles me. View more context for this quotation
1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 375 At the foot of these Mountains there are some rascally Innes.
1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. Pref. p. xviii I am unpardonable..in quoting noble Greek authors, from rascally Translations.
1782 G. Van Cortlandt Let. 8 Apr. in J. Judd Corr. Van Cortlandt Family (1977) 461 I will beg You..Linnen enough for 3 Shirts I really am in Sufferince for the want of them likewise a Gimmy Hatt as the One I have is Rascaly.
1830 W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Weekly Polit. Reg. 24 Apr. 531 A rascally heap of sand and rock and swamp, called Prince Edward's Island.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 317 If we rescue the cattle we can be summoned..all the way to that rascally hole of a township.
1906 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 13 July 12/6 He had worn a rascally soft hat, excusable only in an extreme of wealth or poverty.
1998 A. Tyler Patchwork Planet in Toronto Star (Nexis) That car was my very identity—so ramshackle and rascally.
Compounds
rascally looking adj.
ΚΠ
1821 W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 17 Nov. 1207 A more rascally looking place I never set my eyes on.
1857 R. Fortune Resid. among Chinese xv. 329 Two or three rascally-looking fellows, the scum of the crowd, entered by the north gate.
1919 W. T. Grenfell Labrador Doctor iv. 74 Four of the most rascally looking villains I ever saw.
1998 Seattle Times (Nexis) 5 Dec. d1 The swashbuckling swordplay, the rascally looking mice and the booming cannons transfixed my son.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.1572