"Scown"

[RonButters at AOL.COM]

In a message dated 6/30/05 3:01:18 AM, wilson.gray at RCN.COM writes:


> Is anyone else familiar with "scown" (rhymes with "clown"). Its meaning
> is akin to that of "rascal," to the extent that it can be used both of
> humans as a mild insult and of animals.
>
> Get up, you lazy scown!/rascal!
>
> Look at that scown/rascal go! E.g. of a rabbit being chased by a dog/of
> a dog chasing a rabbit
>
> -Wilson Gray
>

This looks like no more than a clipping from SCOUNDREL. Who used it? When? I
didn't check the OED -- did you? What else did you check? Google turned up
nothing but an 1880 word (Northumberian, as I rdecall) for a switch (such as one
might use to spank a child): <
http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/durhamdialect/heslop.htm>.