scapegrace, n. and a.
(ˈskeɪpgreɪs)
[f. scape v. + grace n., the etymological notion being ‘one who escapes the grace of God’. Cf. the older scapethrift and want-grace.]
A. n.
1. A man or boy of reckless and disorderly habits; an incorrigible scamp. Often used playfully.
| 1809 Malkin Gil Blas v. i. ¶3 That scape-grace Leganez had incurred the penalty of the rod. 1819 Scott Let. in Lockhart (1839) IV. 294 Most of the Irish of that class are scapegraces—drink, steal, and lie like the devil. 1852 Thackeray Esmond iii. i, He..was the most charming young scapegrace in the army. 1897 Meredith Amazing Marriage I. xv. 168 Mention of her old scapegrace of a father lit her up again. |
¶ Applied to a female. rare.
| a 1847 Eliza Cook Rory O'More iii, Hebe, that teasing young scapegrace. |
2. N. Amer. The red-throated loon or diver, Gavia stellata.
| 1835 J. J. Audubon Ornith. Biogr. III. 24 In the neighbourhood of Boston, and along the Bay of Fundy, they are best known by the names of ‘Scape-grace’ and ‘Cape-racer’. 1917 T. G. Pearson Birds Amer. I. 15 Red-throated Loon..Cape Racer; Scape-grace. 1957 W. L. McAtee Folk-Names Canad. Birds 2 Red-throated Loon..scape-grace (Rationalization of Cape Race [where it is often seen]). |
B. adj. That is a scapegrace; characteristic of a scapegrace.
| 1830 Forrester I. 202 A warrant, sir, to bind over your scapegrace friend there to keep the peace. 1836 T. Hook G. Gurney II. 189 After a sort of scape-grace acquaintance with the maddest wag of London. 1856 Masson Ess. iv. 120 The scapegrace young earl. |