• SCAM
n. 1. a burn, singe, scorch, or the mark of such …1808 Sc.
n. 2. a film of vapour, a haze, mist, or shadow …1824 Sc.
n. 3. a spot, blemish, crack, injury, an abrasion …1866 Sc.
n. 4. a hurt to one’s feelings, a wound, a harm, cause of suffering …1875 Sc. obs.
n. 5. a flaw, crack, injury …Bk1904 Sc.
n. 6. a sudden glow of heat or red in the sky …1939 Sc.
n. 7. a plan, a scheme …1940s sl.
n. 8. a con-trick, swindle or racket, often specifically a fraudulent bankruptcy …1963 sl., orig. US
n. 9. information …1964 sl., orig. US
n. 10. misleading information, rumour …1972 sl.
n. 11. a large-scale plan to smuggle and distribute illegal drugs …1970s sl.
n. 12. heroin …2000s US prison sl.
vb. 1. of cloth, skin, cakes, etc.: to burn slightly; to scorch, to singe with dry heat …1746 Sc.
vb. 2. to injure, to crack; to spoil, to damage, to harm in some way, esp. of clothing …1866 Sc.
vb. 3. of frost: to scorch, or blight foliage …1882 Sc.
vb. 4. of a shoe: to twist it out of shape by wearing wrongly; to tread down …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
vb. 5. to stain, to discolour; to bespatter …Bk1904 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 6. to scold severely …1922 Sc.
vb. 7. of nettles: to sting …1933 Sc.
vb. 8. to defraud, to trick …1950s sl.
vb. 9. to swindle, to cheat …1963 sl., orig. US
vb. 10. to escape …1980s US criminals’ sl.
vb. 11. to go in search of and look over the opposite sex for casual sex …1980s US college sl.
• SCAMANDER
n. 1873 – devious progress
vb. 1864 – to wander about, to take a a devious or winding course
• SCAMBLE
n. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – anything done irregularly; a mess; a litter
vb. 1. 1777 Eng. dial. – to shamble, to walk awkwardly; to run hastily and irregularly
vb. 2. 1859 Eng. dial. – to ramble, to roam up and down
vb. 3. 1866 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to scramble, to sprawl, to roll awkwardly about
vb. 4. 1892 Eng. dial. – to trample upon; to litter about, to make untidy
vb. 5. 1901 Eng. dial. – to push, to shove
vb. 6. 1901 Eng. dial. – to scrape up, to collect
vb. 7. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – of work: to do carelessly and hurriedly
• SCAMBLE ALONG
vb. to manage, to ‘get on’ …1901 Eng. dial.
• SCAMBLED
adj. defeated in an intent …1790 Eng. dial. obs.
• SCAMBLER
n. one who goes about among his friends in order to scrape up a meal; a meal-time visitor; a parasite, a sponger …1721 Sc.
• SCAMBLING
adj. 1. 1790 Eng. dial. – hasty, careless; makeshift; untidy
adj. 2. 1891 Eng. dial. – scattered, irregular
n. 1873 Eng. dial. – an irregular meal
• SCAM IN
vb. to gain entry to a concert, performance, etc. without paying for a ticket …1960s sl.
• SCAMMED
adj. subjected to a confidence trick …1990s sl.
• SCAMMER
n. 1. 1972 sl., orig. US – a petty criminal
n. 2. 1970s sl. – a confidence trickster; a swindler
n. 3. 1980s US college sl. – a flirt
vb. 1. 1897 Eng. dial. – to climb, to scramble
vb. 2. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – to scamper, to run quickly
• SCAMMERED
adj. drunk …1859 sl.
• SCAMMING
n. practicing confidence tricks and similar schemes …1970s sl.
• SCAMMISH
adj. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – rough, awkward, untidy
n. 1910s US drug culture sl. – the acquiring and preparation of unadulterated opium
• SCAMMY
adj. with patchy marks …1812 Sc.
• SCAM ON
vb. to flirt …1980s US college sl.
• SCAM OUT
vb. to defraud, to trick …1950s sl.
• SCAMP
n. 1. M18 sl. – a highwayman
n. 2. M18 sl. – highway robbery
n. 3. E19 sl. – a cheat, a swindler
n. 4. M19 UK criminals’ sl. – a thief
n. 5. 1866 Sc. – idle wandering, roaming about
n. 6. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – the scalp or head
n. 7. Bk1904 Sc. & Eng. dial. – work done in a hurried, lazy manner
vb. 1. M18 UK criminals’ sl. – to work as a highwayman
vb. 2. 1851 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial. – to do carelessly; to do work badly, inefficiently, or with bad materials; to shirk work
vb. 3. 1866 Sc. – to go about in an idle manner, to roam, to rove around, often with the idea of intended mischief
vb. 4. 1882 Sc. – to run off, to decamp, to leave
vb. 5. Bk1904 Sc. – to play mischievous tricks
vb. 6. 1909 Amer. dial. – to cheat, to steal
vb. 7. 1911 Amer. dial. – to graze, to strike slightly, to touch lightly in passing, to deliver a glancing blow to
• SCAMP AROUND
vb. 1960 Amer. dial. – to gallivant
• SCAMPER
n. 1. 1851 Eng. dial. – one who works hastily or with bad materials
n. 2. a scampering, a quick run
vb. 1. L17 sl. – to run, to run off
vb. 2. to run playfully about as a child
• SCAMPERER
n. a street thug …E18 sl.
• SCAMPERIL
n. a mischievous child …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
• SCAMPER JUICE
n. whisky …1970s US sl.
• SCAMPI BELT
n. 1960s sl. – the middle-class commuter villages around London and other large cities where, in the late 1950s – early 1960s, it was considered fashionable to eat scampi
• SCAMPING
adj. 1. E19 sl. – dishonest
adj. 2. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – badly or inefficiently done
• SCAMPING BLADE
n. a highwayman …L18 sl.
• SCAMPO
vb. to scamper; to run quickly …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
• SCAMP OFF
vb. to hurry off …1882 Eng. dial.
• SCAMPSMAN
n. a highwayman …L18 sl.
• SCAMPY
adj. badly or inefficiently done …1897 Eng. dial.
• SCAMSTER
n. a confidence trickster …1970s sl.
• SCAMUS
n. a plan, a scheme …1940s sl.
• SCAMY
adj. stained, blotched, having patchy marks …Bk1904 Sc.
• SCAMY BEGGAR
n. a term of abuse …Bk1904 Sc.
• SCAN
n. 1. 1877 Eng. dial. – scorn, disrespect
n. 2. 1930s sl. – a Scandinavian
vb. 1. M19 sl. – to see, to notice
vb. 2. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – to look with disgust or disdain
vb. 3. Bk1904 Eng. dial. obs. – to scoff; to scold
vb. 4. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – to squint
• SCANCE
adj. Bk1904 Sc. – proud, haughty, disdainful; distant in manner
n. 1. 1787 Sc. – a glance, a quick appraising look, a brief scrutiny, a cursory survey or review of persons or affairs
n. 2. 1819 Sc. – a glance, a sudden short sight or appearance, a glimpse, tinge, hue of colour
n. 3. 1819 Sc. – a gleam; a light
n. 4. 1866 Sc. – blame, reproach, obloquy
n. 5. 1920 Sc. – a rough idea or estimate
vb. 1. 1714 Sc. – to climb
vb. 2. 1724 Sc. – to reflect on, to consider
vb. 3. 1773 Sc. – to glitter, to shine; to make a great show
vb. 4. 1801 Sc. – to criticize, to be censorious about, to reproach, to taunt
vb. 5. 1804 Sc. – to find out by investigation, to seek a sight of
vb. 6. 1804 Sc. – to make trial of; to put to the test
vb. 7. 1805 Sc. – to reproach; to make censorious reflections on anything
vb. 8. 1806 Sc. – to give a slight account of
vb. 9. 1815 Sc. – to make a great show in conversation; to talk in a pompous or affected manner, to exaggerate, to embellish a story to the limits of credibility for the sake of effect
vb. 10. 1825 Sc. – to look at, to examine, to analyze metrically; to give a critical or appraising look at; to scrutinize
vb. 11. 1883 Sc. – to glance at; to scan; esp. to look contemptuously
• SCANCE AT
vb. Bk1904 Sc. – to conjecture; to form a hasty judgement concerning a thing
• SCANCER
n. 1. 1820 Sc. – a showy person, one with good appearance or looks
n. 2. 1825 Sc. – one who exaggerates or ‘talks big’
• SCANCHUS
n. Bk1904 Ireland – a story, chat, discussion
• SCANCLISHIN
n. 1. Bk1904 Sc. – a small remainder
n. 2. Bk1904 Sc. – scanty increase
• SCAND
n. a Scandinavian …1930s sl.
• SCANDAHOOFIAN
adj. Scandinavian …L19 US sl.
• SCANDAHOOVIAN
adj. L19 US sl. – Scandinavian
n. 1901 Amer. dial. – a Scandinavian
• SCANDAL
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a scoundrel, a rascal
vb. 1606 obs. – to disgrace
• SCANDALOUS
adj. 1. 1980s sl., orig. African-American – extremely bad
adj. 2. 1980s sl., orig. African-American – excellent, first-rate
n. L17 UK criminals’ sl. – a wig
• SCANDALOUSLY
adv. in a totally unacceptable manner …1990s US teen sl.
• SCANDAL-BROTH
n. tea …L18 sl.
• SCANDAL-CRACK
n. a chat involving the repetition of scandal …1873 Eng. dial.
• SCANDALEESE
vb. to shock the feelings of, to spread scandal …1897 Sc.
• SCANDALIZE
vb. to slander, to malign, to defame, to ridicule …1844
• SCANDAL-JOBBER
n. a scandal-monger …1873 Eng. dial.
• SCANDALMONGER
n. a person who spreads scandal or gossip …1715
• SCANDALOUS
adj. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – filthy, befouled
adv. 1884 Eng. & Eng. & Amer. dial. – very, exceedingly, excessively
• SCANDAL-POTION
n. tea …1786 Sc.
• SCANDAL-PROOF
adj. applied to a professional thief hardened or past shame …L17 sl.
• SCANDAL-SOUP
n. tea …L18 sl.
• SCANDAL-WATER
n. tea …L18 sl.
• SCANDERT
n. 1. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – a drunkard
n. 2. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – drunkenness
• SCANDICULOUS
adj. 1881 Amer. dial. – scandalous and ridiculous
• SCANDIHOOVIAN
adj. 1936 Amer. dial. – Scandinavian
n. 1930 Amer. dial. – a Scandinavian
• SCANDIHOOVIAN DYNAMITE
n. snuff …1942 Amer. dial.
• SCANDINOOVIA
n. Scandinavia …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• SCANDIWEGIA
n. Scandinavia …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• SCANDY
adj. L19 sl., orig. NZ – Scandinavian
n. L19 sl., orig. NZ – a Scandinavian
• SCANGE
vb. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – to roam about
• SCANGER
n. 1. 2000s Irish sl. – a lout
n. 2. 2000s Irish sl. – a silly woman
• SCANGLED
adj. sprawling; lying about on the ground …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
• SCANK
n. an unattractive, easily available young woman …1960s sl., orig. US
• SCANKY
adj. 1. 1970s sl., orig. African-American – dirty, second-rate, unattractive, cheap-looking, ugly, promiscuous
adj. 2. 1970s sl., orig. African-American – of a woman: attractive, sexy
• SCANMAG
n. E18 sl. – chatter, gossip, scandal
vb. E18 sl. – to chatter; to gossip
• SCANNACH
vb. to gleam, to shine …1814 Sc. obs.
• SCAN ON
vb. to watch closely, to look closely, esp. at something one intends stealing …1960s African-American sl.
• SCANSE
vb. 1. 1714 Sc. obs. – to climb
vb. 2. 1773 Sc. – to glitter, to shine; to make a great show
• SCANSING
adj. 1825 Sc. – of a young woman: good-looking, striking-looking, well-favoured
• SCANT
adj. 1. 1715 Sc. – poor, badly off
adj. 2. 1819 Sc. – sparing, parsimonious
adj. 3. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – narrow
adv. 1877 Sc. & Eng. dial. – scarcely
n. 1. 1823 Sc. & Eng. dial. – poverty
n. 2. 1841 Sc. & Eng. dial. – scantiness, scarcity, lack
vb. 1. 1794 Eng. dial. – to stint; to be insufficiently supplied
vb. 2. 1871 Sc. – to become scarce or slight in amount, force, etc.
vb. 3. 1875 Eng. dial. – to cant
vb. 4. 1876 Eng. dial. – to rove; to race about
• SCANTERER
n. a roving bullock …1877 Eng. dial.
• SCANTIES
n. very brief underpants, esp. for women …1920s sl., orig. US
• SCANTING
n. tugging the victim’s underwear upwards, in order to give them a painful shock …1990s UK juvenile sl.
• SCANT IN THE WALLET
adj. poor …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• SCANTISH
adj. 1. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – scarce
adj. 2. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – deficient; limited
• SCANTITY
n. 1. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – a scarcity
n. 2. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – insufficiency
• SCANTLING
adj. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – small, very scanty
n. 1. 1857 Sc. – a small or puny person
n. 2. a small quantity or amount
n. 3. Bk1904 Sc. – the juncture of a wall with the roof of a house
• SCANTLINS
adv. 1772 Sc. – scarcely, hardly
• SCANTLY
adj. 1. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – scarce
adj. 2. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – deficient, limited
• SCANT-O-GRACE
n. 1718 Sc. & Eng. dial. obs. – a scapegrace, a reprobate; a graceless fellow; a good-for-nothing
• SCANTS
n. 1970s UK juvenile sl. – underwear
• SCANTWAYS
adv. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – obliquely
• SCAP
n. 1843 Sc. obs. – a beehive
• SCAPA
vb. 1910s rhyming sl. – to go, esp. to run off
• SCAPA FLOW
vb. 1910s Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘go’ – to go, to run off, to make a hasty exit
• SCAPALI
vb. M19 sl. – to escape, to run off
• SCAPE
int. 1888 Eng. dial. – used to express the cry of a snipe
n. 1. 1788 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a landscape; a portion of ground
n. 2. 1843 Sc. obs. – a beehive
n. 3. 1863 Eng. dial. – the shell of a walnut
n. 4. Bk1904 Sc. & Eng. dial. – an escape
vb. 1. 1813 arch. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial. – to escape
vb. 2. 1903 Sc. – to run at large, to scamper
vb. 3. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – of walnuts: to shell
vb. 4. 1909 Amer. dial. – to graze, to mark slightly
• SCAPEGALLOWS
n. 1. 1799 – a dedicated villain who has (so far) escaped the gallows; a scoundrel; a rascal
n. 2. 1819 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a term of reproach for a thoroughly bad fellow
• SCAPEGALLOWS AROUND
vb. 1953 Amer. dial. – to go about in an idle or reprehensible manner; to loaf
• SCAPEGRACE
adj. 1830 – characteristic of a scapegrace
n. 1. 1809 – a man or boy of reckless and disorderly habits; a careless, idle, harebrained fellow; a graceless, good-for-nothing fellow; a ne’er-do-well; a complete rogue or rascal; a habitually unscrupulous person; a scamp (rarely applied to a female)
n. 2. B1900 – the red-throated loon or diver, Gavia stellata
• SCAPEN OFF
vb. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – to scamper, to flee
• SCAPER
n. 1933 Amer. dial. – a rascal; a critter, a varmint
vb. 1. 1851 Eng. dial. – to run off quickly; to scamper
vb. 2. 1933 Amer. dial. – to dash, to romp
• SCAPE-RAPE
n. 1836 Sc. – one who has escaped hanging; a rogue
• SCAPER AROUND
vb. 1938 Amer. dial. – to gad about
• SCAPES-O’-DEATH
n. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – a term of derision for a sour, disagreeable person
• SCAPE-THE-GALLOWS
n. 1819 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a term of reproach for a thoroughly bad fellow
• SCAPPER
vb. 1960s Irish sl. – to go, to run off
• SCAPULOMANCY
n. Bk1991 – divination in which a shoulder blade is heated in a fire and the resulting cracks in the bone are consulted for bones
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Updated: February 28, 2023
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