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Word entry · 8 letters

scofflaw

Best crossword clue

"Chronic rule-breaker"

8 letters · collected on this word page

8 lettersPronunciation /ˈskɔfˌlɔ/Part of speech nounSorted acffloswStarts with SEnds with W1 clues
1S2C3O4F5F6L7A8W

Definitions

  1. one who habitually ignores the law and does not answer court summonses

Word origin

From scoff + law. Coined simultaneously by Mr Henry Irving Dale and Miss Kate L. Butler for a contest held in Boston in 1923 in which a word for "a lawless drinker of illegally made or illegally obtained liquor" was sought during the Prohibition era.

Used in a sentence

  • The scofflaw entered the scoflsloon. He leaned an elbow on the scoffbar and rested a foot on the scoffrail. 'Waddle'y' have?" said the scoffbartender. "A little tea," said the scofflaw.
  • If we are to scour out the scofflaws, we must first remove those particular laws at which nearly everybody scoffs.
  • Within six months, with the full cooperation of police throughout the state, the scofflaw rate was down to 22 per cent.

Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0

Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues

01Chronic rule-breaker8 letters

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