Crossword clues for scalawag
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Scalawag \Scal"a*wag\, n.
A scamp; a scapegrace. [Spelt also scallawag.] [Slang,
U.S.]
--Bartlett.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
also scallawag, "disreputable fellow," 1848, American English, originally in trade union jargon, of uncertain origin; perhaps an alteration (by influence of wag "habitual joker") of Scottish scallag "farm servant, rustic," itself an alteration of Scalloway, one of the Shetland Islands, wit the reference being to little Shetland ponies (an early recorded sense of scalawag was "undersized or worthless animal," 1854). In U.S. history, used from 1862 as a derogatory term for anti-Confederate native white Southerners.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context pejorative archaic English) A scrawny cow. 2 (context pejorative archaic English) A rascal. 3 (context pejorative US archaic or historical English) Any white Southerner who supported the federal plan of Reconstruction after the American Civil War or who joined with the black freedman and the carpetbaggers in support of Republican Party policies.
WordNet
n. white Southerner supporting Reconstruction policies after the Civil War usually for self-interest [syn: scallywag]
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel [syn: rogue, knave, rascal, rapscallion, scallywag, varlet]
one who is playfully mischievous [syn: imp, scamp, monkey, rascal, rapscallion, scallywag]
Wikipedia
In United States history, scalawags were western whites who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party, after the American Civil War.
Like the similar term " carpetbagger," the word has a long history of use as a slur in Southern partisan debates. The opponents of the scalawags claimed they were disloyal to traditional values of white supremacy. The term is commonly used in historical studies as a neutral descriptor of Southern white Republicans, although some historians have discarded the term due to its history of pejorative connotations.
Scalawag is a 1973 film directed by Kirk Douglas, his first of two films directed, the other being Posse.
Scalawag is a nickname for Southern whites who supported Reconstruction following the American Civil War.
Scalawag or 'scallywag may also refer to:
Usage examples of "scalawag".
Creed, who was nine, was holding his pet raccoon Scalawag in his arms, wrapped in an old shirt.
As soon as it was safe, Hannah opened her desk and lifted Scalawag into her arms.
I may be considered a scalawag by some, but my manners are impeccable.
I ran off to sea soon after they were married, like the young scalawag I was.
George was a real nice fellow, though he was a scalawag for mischief, and some said he had a liking for a glass even then.
He could not read the heavy broadsides and newspapers on whether this or that political scalawag should be voted out or how this or that party or state legislature had cried secession or conciliation.
And that part of the State Militia still made up of local white men can be trusted to defend our Carpetbagger, Scalawag, Negro government even less than the army can.
Who in the hell is this female scalawag gone try shake some money out of my tree?
This was apparently in the nature of a scalawag toast, for the six scoundrels guzzled their pots in unison, Shelyid joining in, with a ravenous fervor which, it can hardly be doubted, caused the angels to ring the dome of heaven with a united peal of outrage.
Regardless of the turn affairs had taken the energy of the carpet-baggers and scalawags fagged not a moment.
She never says a harsh word about another woman, and if she likes to card us poor scalawags of men down I reckon our tough old hides can stand it.
Those two were a couple of scalawags, but he did love them both very dearly.
That bunch of Carpetbaggers and Scalawags in Vicksburg were ruining the State for fair.
Northern Carpetbaggers, the Southern Scalawags, and the ignorant black ex-field hands who now called themselves legislators.
This was apparently something in the way of a ruffianly toast, for the six scalawags raised their teacups in unison, pinkies politely extended like so many small logs, and slurped noisily.