rascalry

English

Etymology

rascal +‎ -ry

Noun

rascalry (plural rascalries)

1. Rascally behavior.
   • 1870 October 1, “Review of Tracts written in the Controversy respecting the Legitimacy of Amicia, daughter of Hugh Cyveliok, Earl of Chester, A.D. 1673-1679”, in The Antheneum, page 427:

     The Dutch war, the rights of election, contests between king and parliament on questions of vital importance, the plots, rascalries, the shame and humiliation of the time, must have been in men's thoughts.

   • 1965, Raja Rao, The Cat and Shakespeare: A Tale of India, Macmillan, page 90:

     Can a rascal see his rascalry? How could he, poor man?

2. (collectively, uncountable) Rascals.
   • 1878, John Doran, Memories of Our Great Towns, London: Chatto & Windus, page 108:

     All the rascalry of the town, under the slogan of 'Church and King! and d--- all Presbyterians!' took advantage of the opportunity to burn, destroy, and plunder.

   • 1978, Robert G. Wesson, State Systems: International Pluralism, Politics, and Culture, Free Press, page 167:

     Once-productive fields were deserted, as magnates surrounded themselves with hired rascalry, and banditry took over large areas of the countryside.

Synonyms

• rascality