scarper

Probably from Italian scappare (“to run away”), influenced by Cockney rhyming slang Scapa Flow = go.

• In the chapter "Punch Talk" of 1851, Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor, Vol 3, the author discusses the slang language used by travelling Italian Punch and Judy men and entertainers, which had English, Italian, Jewish and traveller roots. He states that "scarper" is Punch Talk for "to get away quickly" (from the police or other authority) and derives from the Italian scappare or escappare (compare English escape).

• An alternative etymology traces the word "scarper" to the Cockney rhyming slang Scapa Flow (“go”) (as in, e.g., "go away").

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈskɑː.pə/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)pə(ɹ)

scarper (third-person singular simple present scarpers, present participle scarpering, simple past and past participle scarpered)

1. (British, slang) To run away; to flee; to escape.
   • 1904, John Coleman, Fifty years of an actors̓ life, volume 1, page 54:

     Out went the lights, as he continued, "That sneak Whiskers have just blown the gaff to old Slow-Coach, and he'll be here in two two's to give you beans — so scarper, laddies — scarper!"

   • 2001, Ardal O'Hanlon, Knick Knack Paddy Whack, page 7:

     The tramps scarpered, the street-traders pushing prams scarpered, half of Dublin scarpered as if they all had something to hide.

   • 2007, The Guardian‎:

     Helm writes: 'As if she were some street criminal, ready to scarper, Ruth's home was swooped upon by [Assistant Commissioner John] Yates's men and she was forced to dress in the presence of a female police officer.

   • 28 March 2023, Graeme McGarry, “Scott McTominay earns place in history as Scotland stun Spain”, in The Herald‎:

     Pedro Porro was a pantomime villain on the night in the eyes of both home and visiting fans - more of that later - slipping on a patch of wet turf to allow Andy Robertson to steal in and scarper to the byline.

• Carpers, carpers, scraper