Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 13, 2026 is:
 
 
 
 
 rapscallion &#149; \rap-SKAL-yun\&nbsp; &#149; noun
 The word rapscallion refers to someone who causes trouble, often in a mischievous way. It appears in the same sorts of contexts as <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rascal">rascal</a> and <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scamp">scamp</a>.

// The movie follows the story of a rambunctious young rapscallion who can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapscallion">See the entry ></a>
 
 
 
 Examples:
 “Charlie Brown evolved into a world-class underdog. ‘Originally, Charlie Brown was a bit of a rapscallion, a bit of a wiseass,’ [Chris] Mautner said. ‘There is a certain point, after a year or two, when he starts to become the butt of jokes, when he starts being a lonely kid. Once <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Schulz">[Charles] Schulz</a> hit upon that, Charlie Brown got it pretty bad for a long time.’” — Jim Beckerman, The Record (Bergen County, New Jersey), 9 Oct. 2025
 
 
 
 Did you know?
 The word rascal has been part of English since the 15th century, but it apparently failed to fully capture the disagreeable nature of the wily <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knave">knaves</a> of yore: by the 16th century, English speakers had expanded rascal to <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rascallion">rascallion</a>. But it seems that even that term didn’t sound quite mischievous enough. Eventually, rascallion was further altered, resulting in the snappier, <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plosive">plosive</a>-enhanced rapscallion. And although rapscallion has zero connection with <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scallion">scallion</a>, it does add a figuratively spicy kick to one’s speech, not unlike <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chawbacon">chawbacon</a> and <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/top-10-rare-and-amusing-insults-vol-2">other cheeky insults</a> that may be of interest and use.

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