skellum
nounEtymology From Afrikaans skelm, from German Schelm or Middle Low German; cognate to etymology 1.
1
South Africa A rogue.
- Related terms
- schellum
skellum
nounEtymology From Danish skælm, from Middle Low German; cognate to German Schelm.
- Dr. Creeton, [Robert Creighton] the Scotchman, […] ripped up Hugh Peters (calling him the execrable skellum), his preaching and stirring up the maids of the city to bring in their bodkins and thimbles.1663 April 3, Samuel Pepys, Diary:
- O Tam! had'st thou but been sae wise, As taen thy ain wife Kate's advice! She tauld thee weel thou was a skellum, A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum; That frae November till October, Ae market-day thou was na sober.1791, Robert Burns, Tam O' Shanter, lines 17–22: