Skeffling

A skeffling is an archaic English term primarily used in the Lincolnshire region of England to describe a fugitive or a person who lives by their wits, often by begging or petty theft. The term carries connotations of shiftlessness and a lack of social standing. While sometimes used interchangeably with vagrant or rogue, "skeffling" specifically highlights the individual's resourcefulness and often itinerant lifestyle, eking out a living through opportunistic means. The etymology of the word is uncertain, though theories suggest connections to words implying "scraping by" or "moving stealthily." The usage of "skeffling" has largely diminished in modern English, primarily surviving in historical or regional contexts.