1. A deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
   "The scallawag swindled several investors before being caught";
   - rogue, knave [archaic], rascal, rapscallion, scalawag [N. Amer], scallywag, varlet [archaic]
    
2. One who is playfully mischievous
   "The young scallawag was always getting into harmless trouble";
   - imp, scamp [informal], monkey, rascal, rapscallion, scalawag [N. Amer], scallywag
    
3. A white Southerner who supported Reconstruction policies after the American Civil War (usually for self-interest)
   "The scallawag argued that supporting Reconstruction was necessary for the South's economic recovery";
   - scalawag [N. Amer], scallywag

Derived forms: scallawags

Type of: bad person, child, kid [informal], kiddie [informal], kiddy [informal], minor, nestling [informal], nipper [informal], scoundrel, shaver [informal], small fry [informal], tiddler [Brit, informal], tike [informal], tyke [informal], villain, wean [UK, Ireland, dialect], youngster

Encyclopedia: Scallawag