Skallywag
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Skallywag" means a rascal or mischievous person - a regional pronunciation and spelling of the older American slang word "scalawag."
'Skallywag' or 'scallywag' was something my Momma said often when I was growin' up. It's one of my favorites. 'Skallywag' or 'scallywag' was something my Momma said often when I was growin' up. It's one of my favorites. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- A mischievous person or rascal (noun)
That skallywag keeps hiding my keys.Origin and Etymology
From earlier British dialect "scallowag" (a worthless animal), which became "scalawag" in American slang by the mid-1800s. In the South it later acquired a political meaning during Reconstruction, but as everyday speech it shifted to mean "rascal" or "troublemaker." "Skallywag" reflects the Southern/Appalachian spelling and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Still heard in Southern/Appalachian speech, especially among older speakers or in playful family talk. Outside the region "scallywag" or "scalawag" may be recognized as quaint, pirate-like, or humorous but is rarely used in conversation.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "skallywag" - also heard as "scallywag" or "scalawag." All mean roughly the same thing, but "skallywag" sounds the most Southern/Appalachian.