scalawag

• Nom avec plusieurs sens : historiquement, un Blanc du Sud qui soutenait la politique de Reconstruction après la guerre de Sécession, souvent par intérêt personnel ; plus généralement, un coquin menteur et peu fiable ; ou, dans un sens plus léger, une personne espiègle et joueuse.

A noun with multiple meanings: historically, a white Southerner who supported Reconstruction policies after the American Civil War, often for personal gain; more generally, a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel; or, in a lighter sense, a playfully mischievous person.

1. Reconstruction supporterC1formalamericanpolitical

   A white Southerner who collaborated with Republican Reconstruction governments after the American Civil War, often for personal gain.

   Scalawag (partisan sudiste des Républicains)

   • Many scalawags were former Whigs who saw economic opportunity in Reconstruction.
   • The planter class viewed scalawags as traitors to the Southern cause.
   • Historians debate whether scalawags were motivated by principle or self-interest.

2. Deceitful personB2informalamerican

   A dishonest, untrustworthy, or roguish individual.

   Personne malhonnête

   • That scalawag tried to sell me a broken watch.
   • Don't trust him; he's a known scalawag who cheats at cards.
   • The town sheriff finally caught the scalawag who had been stealing horses.

   Synonymesgood-for-nothingknavemiscreantrapscallionrascalroguescoundrel

3. Playful mischief-makerB1informalamerican

   A person, especially a child, who is mischievous in a harmless or amusing way.

   Espiègle

   • The little scalawag hid his sister's doll just to tease her.
   • My nephew is a lovable scalawag who's always getting into minor trouble.
   • The class scalawag put a whoopee cushion on the teacher's chair.

   Synonymesimpmischief-makerpranksterrascalroguescamp