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Without googling it, what is a rap scallion? (piefed.ca)
submitted 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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Currently playing a video game and a NPC called me this. It’s a pre-boomer term as I’ve always known. So, I thought it’d be fun to see who gets close to the definition.

Based entirely on trust-

Without googling it, wtf is a rap scallion?

EDIT: For clarification, I know it means onery and rambunctious youth, but what is it derived from. Like the origin of the term.

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[–] [S] 2 points 21 hours ago (1 child)

I mis-asked the question. I mean, the origin of the term. Like where did it come from?

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  • [–] 1 point 8 hours ago*

    My guess is that it descended from "rascal", or is closely related. I know a lot of French and some Spanish and Italian, and I don't think "rascal" appears in those languages, so it can't come from Latin/Greek. But, it doesn't sound Anglo Saxon or Germanic, so I reckon it might be Shakespearian, he introduced loads of new words like this.

    Edit: I have just googled, I was mostly wrong. "Rascal" comes from Latin through old French, then "rapscallion" evolved in English in the 17th century to be able to add spoken emphasis. It's just easier to contemptuously spit "you rapscallion" than "you rascal".

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