A rogue, villain, or scoundrel — used in both Scottish and South African English. In South Africa, where it entered through Afrikaans and Dutch influence, it remains in active use with a slight tinge of amusement; a schelm can be a loveable rogue as much as a genuine bad actor. In Scotland its use is largely historical.
He smiled when she called him a schelm; he knew she was not entirely wrong.
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(Scotland) A villain or scoundrel.
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