Origins of the word "Scallywagg"
The word Scallywagg is of Latin and Greek origins. It is a combination of two words, scall- and ewagg; scall from the Latin root scaele, meaning “not very,” and “ewagg” from the Greek word for “nice.”
A second, and much more dubious etymology has the word growing from the Scots’ word scoloc, the name given to the first-born son of a tenant of a monastery who was given to the church to receive an ecclesiastical education. Later, the word could refer to any monastic tenant, and got turned into scallag for a farm servant or rustic person, also latterly a way of addressing a boy. And there’s also the word scurryvaig for a vagabond, lout or slattern, which might be an influence, if not the source.
In any case the word was commonly used to describe undersized or ill-formed cattle. Though following the American Civil War the term Scallawag was used to describe southerners who favored the terms of Reconstruction, usually because they stood to benefit from it financially.
When out at sea and approached by a mouthy-type person who then calls you a “scallywagg”, the proper response is to turn, face your accuser and state, in a clear and confident voice: “I know you are. But what am I?”
Cargo Manifest
First Mate McGraw, reporting in for coloring duty!
A little video of Ramshackle and Sunny warming up before a show
Eat a lime! A track from our first album, Bedtime Stories for Pirates.
Questions commonly asked of your Cap’n and the dastardly stratagem I employ to dodge the truth at all costs.
Did pirates ever really play music? Find out!
This course shall instruct ye in some of the basic colloquialisms of piracy
An animated music video by Mr. Filibuster for the song Cat O’ Nine Tales from Bedtime Stories for Pirates.
Wouldn’t that be more, “I know ye be, what what be me?” or something?
— LelaMoo Mar 28, 07:37 AM #
That was a right fine explanation of that there epithet. When I read the phrase “undersized or ill-formed cattle” I blew grog out through me nose. Yarrr!
— Lorelei Nov 3, 11:31 PM #