Scamp

subs. (old cant).—1.  A highway robber (also SCAMPSMAN); and (2) highway robbery (also SCAMPERY). Whence as verb = to rob on the highway; ROYAL-SCAMP = ‘a highwayman who robs civilly’; ROYAL-FOOT-SCAMP = ‘a footpad behaving in like manner’; DONE FOR A SCAMP = convicted (GROSE, PARKER, VAUX). See quot. 1823.

  1754.  POULTER, The Discoveries of John Poulter, 42. I’ll SCAMP on the panney.

  1781.  MESSINK, The Choice of Harlequin. ‘Ye SCAMPS, ye pads, ye divers.’

  1823.  BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. SCAMP … Beggars who would turn their hands to any thing occasionally, without enquiring in whom the thing is vested, are said to GO UPON THE SCAMP. Fellows who pilfer in markets, from stalls or orchards, who snatch off hats, cheat publicans out of liquor, or toss up cheatingly—commit SCAMPING tricks.

  c. 1824.  P. EGAN, Boxiana, iii. 622. And from the start the SCAMPS are cropp’d at home.

  1830.  W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1.

  1834.  W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, ‘The Game of High Toby.’ Forth to the heath is the SCAMPSMAN gone. Ibid., III. 5. A rank SCAMP, cried the upright man.

  1842.  P. EGAN, Captain Macheath, v. A SCAMPSMAN, you know, must always be bold.

  3.  (common).—A rogue; an arrant rascal; sometimes (colloquial) in jest. Hence SCAMPISH = roguish, tricky; SCAMPERY = roguery.

  c. 1835.  R. H. DANA, Jr., Two Years Before the Mast, 84. Among the Mexicans … every rich man looks like a grandee, and every poor SCAMP like a broken-down gentleman.

  1849–50.  THACKERAY, Pendennis, xiii. The impudent bog-trotting SCAMP.

  1854.  WHYTE-MELVILLE, General Bounce, ii. Tom Blacke was a SCAMP of the first water.

  c. 1859.  DE QUINCEY, Works, II. 43. He has done the SCAMP too much honour. Ibid., The Spanish Military Nun, 23. The alcalde personally renewed his regrets for the ridiculous scene of the two SCAMPISH oculists.

  1879.  PAYN, High Spirits (Finding His Level). Vulgar dukes or SCAMPISH lords.

  1883.  Graphic, 24 Feb., 199, 3. All the SCAMPERY of Liverpool seems to be present.

  1902.  Daily Mail, 14 Jan., 6, 3. Of all the SCAMPISH SCAMPS unhung this specimen of perverted culture beats all.

  Verb. (common).—2.  To do carelessly and ill; to give bad work or short measure.

  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, III. 240. SCAMPING adds at least 200 per cent. to the productions of the cabinetmaker’s trade.

  1862.  London Herald, 27 Dec., ‘Answers to Corresp.’ Find out, if it is an estate where any SCAMPING is allowed to create heavy ground rents.

  1881.  PAYN, A Grape from a Thorn, xlii. The idea of SCAMPING her work … had no existence for her.

  1883.  A. TROLLOPE, Autobiography, I. 164. It is not on my conscience that I have ever SCAMPED my work. My novels, whether good or bad, have been as good as I could make them.

  1886.  Daily Telegraph, 1 Jan. The work is as often … SCAMPED as it is well done.