scamper

UK: /ˈskæmpə^r/ US: /ˈskæmpɚ/ ,(skam′pər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scamp•er /ˈskæmpɚ/   v. [no object]

1. to run or go hastily:
   The dog scampered out of the room.
2. to run playfully about;
   caper:
   The children scampered in the yard.

n. [countable]

3. an act or instance of scampering.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scamp•er  (skam′pər), v.i. 

1. to run or go hastily or quickly.
2. to run playfully about, as a child.

n. 

3. a scampering;
   a quick run.

• obsolete scamp to go (see scamp) + -er⁶ 1680–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scamper / ˈskæmpə/ verb (intransitive)

1. to run about playfully
2. (often followed by through) to hurry quickly through (a place, task, book, etc)

noun

1. the act of scampering

Etymology: 17th Century: probably from scamp (vb); see scamp¹

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scamp /skæmp/   n. [countable]

1. one who cheats another for his or her own profit.
2. a young person who enjoys mild teasing of another.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scamp  (skamp), n. 

1. an unscrupulous and often mischievous person;
   rascal;
   rogue;
   scalawag.
2. a playful, mischievous, or naughty young person;
   upstart.
3. Fish a grouper, Mycteroperca phenax, of Florida: so called from its habit of stealing bait.

v.t. 

4. to do or perform in a hasty or careless manner:
   to scamp work.

• Old French escamper to decamp
• obsolete Dutch schampen to be gone
• obsolete scamp to travel about idly or for mischief, perh. 1775–85

scamp′er, n. 
scamp′ing•ly, adv. 
scamp′ish, adj. 
scamp′ish•ly, adv. 
scamp′ish•ness, n.