英语词汇scalawag的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

scalawag. Undersized, lean, undeveloped cattle that were of lit- tle use were called scalawags by American ranchers and farmers in the West toward the middle of the 18th century. The term then came to be applied to disreputable people, rogues, scoundrels, rascals, those who refused to work, and had a special use in the South after the Civil War to describe anyone willing to accept Re- construction. As for scalawag itself, the word remains something of a mystery. It may derive from the Gaelic sgalag, for “a lowly servant or rustic,” but more likely comes from Scalloway, one of the Shetland Islands that is known for its dwarf ponies and cattle, which could have been considered worthless. Other suggestions are the Scottish scurryvaig, “a vagabond”; the Latin scurra vagas, “a wandering buffoon”; and the English dialect scall, “skin- disease.” No one seems to know why the word, with so many pos- sible British derivations, is first recorded in America.

词汇	scalawag
词源	scalawag. Undersized, lean, undeveloped cattle that were of lit- tle use were called scalawags by American ranchers and farmers in the West toward the middle of the 18th century. The term then came to be applied to disreputable people, rogues, scoundrels, rascals, those who refused to work, and had a special use in the South after the Civil War to describe anyone willing to accept Re- construction. As for scalawag itself, the word remains something of a mystery. It may derive from the Gaelic sgalag, for “a lowly servant or rustic,” but more likely comes from Scalloway, one of the Shetland Islands that is known for its dwarf ponies and cattle, which could have been considered worthless. Other suggestions are the Scottish scurryvaig, “a vagabond”; the Latin scurra vagas, “a wandering buffoon”; and the English dialect scall, “skin- disease.” No one seems to know why the word, with so many pos- sible British derivations, is first recorded in America.
随便看	devil-s island devil-s paintbrush know like a book know-nothing know one-s cans know one-s onions know the ropes know thy opportunity know thyself know what-s what know which side one-s bread is buttered on knuckle down knuckle under koala kodak koh-i-noo konpyutaa kook korean conflict korean emergency kosher kowtow kp k-rations kreutzer sonata