Other forms: scoundrels
A scoundrel is a thoroughly dishonest person. An absolute scoundrel, the old scoundrel, a charming scoundrel.
It is old-fashioned enough now to sound almost affectionate, which is what happens to insults as they age — nobody is frightened of being called one. Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel is Johnson's line. The origin of the word is unknown.
1nounscoundrelA thoroughly dishonest person.
“The scoundrel ran off with the old woman's savings.”
scoundrel is a person.
First recorded in the sixteenth century; the further origin is unknown, perhaps from a northern dialect word.
Built from
From earlier scondrel, scondrell, skoundrell, skowndrell, of unknown origin. Possibly related to northern English or Scottish scunner, skuner, scouner, scunder (“to shrink back in fear, disgust, or loathing”) (Encyclopædia Britannica 1911).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA