skellum

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛləm

Etymology 1

From Danish skælm, from Middle Low German; cognate to German Schelm.

Noun

skellum (plural skellums)

1. (obsolete, UK) A scoundrel.
   • 1663 April 3, Samuel Pepys, Diary:

     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.

   • 1791, Robert Burns, Tam O' Shanter, lines 17–22:

     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.

Etymology 2

From Afrikaans skelm, from German Schelm or Middle Low German; cognate to etymology 1.

Noun

skellum (plural skellums)

1. (South Africa) A rogue.

Related terms

• schellum

Anagrams

• Kellums

Icelandic

Noun

skellum f

1. indefinite dative plural of skella

Verb

skellum

1. first-person plural present indicative of skella
2. first-person plural present subjunctive of skella