Word of the Day – Rampallion

Rampallion (noun) (rare) (archaic)

ram-pal-ee-un

A ruffian, a villain, a rascal.

Late 16th century; earliest use found in Thomas Nashe (d. c1601), writer. Origin uncertain. Perhaps from ramp + -allion, perhaps showing alteration of rascallion by association with ramp. Perhaps compare later ramscallion, rapscallion, tatterdemalion.

Example sentences

“The little rampallion wants to hope I never catch him”