scallawag
/ˈskæləwæɡ/
noun
- A person who behaves badly or dishonestly; a rascal or scoundrel.
- The old man called the mischievous boy a scallawag and chased him off his property.
- In the story, the scallawag was always plotting some new trick.
- That scallawag tried to cheat me out of my allowance.
- In U.S. history, a white Southerner who collaborated with Northern Republicans during Reconstruction, often used as a term of contempt.
- Scallawags were resented by many for supporting Reconstruction policies.
- The historian explained how scallawags were often wealthy landowners who sought political power.
- Many Southerners viewed the scallawags as traitors to their region.