Ras″cal (răs″kal), n. [OE. rascaille rabble, probably from an OF. racaille, F. racaille the rabble, rubbish, probably akin to F. racler to scrape, (assumed) LL. rasiculare, rasicare, fr. L. radere, rasum. See Rase, v.]
1. One of the rabble; a low, common sort of person or creature; collectively, the rabble; the common herd; also, a lean, ill-conditioned beast, esp. a deer.
He smote of the people seventy men, and fifty thousand of the rascal. Wyclif (1 Kings vi. 19).
Poor men alone? No, no; the noblest deer hath them as huge as the rascal. Shak.
2. A mean, trickish fellow; a base, dishonest person; a rogue; a scoundrel; a trickster.
For I have sense to serve my turn in store,
And he's a rascal who pretends to more. Dryden.