Rascal
The rascal is a slang term for a petty criminal (" crook "). It is derived from the term Spitzel (a diminutive for the Spitz dog breed , which is considered to be particularly vigilant), which was formed in Vienna at the beginning of the 19th century for " spy " or "eavesdropper". The second half of the word comes from the Middle High German buobe for "boy", "servant", which soon stood disparagingly for "mean, contemptible people" (the "bad boys" of the Luther Bible ).
From a different point of view, the Spitzbube corresponds to the Spitzknecht and denotes the spear-bearing mercenary. The Spitzknecht is then a synonym for the philistine. The Spitzknecht is already negatively referenced in Thomas Müntzer's prince sermon from 1524 and is caricatured in Jost Ammann's war book from 1560 as a mouth hero, gambler and gallows bird. The Spitzknecht / boy is to be placed in line with the Eysenbeisser and the Lotter boy (the one with the Lorraine jacket).
With the introduction of the mandatory robe for lawyers by cabinet order of December 15, 1726, it was justified by King Friedrich Wilhelm I in Prussia as follows: "We hereby order and order in all seriousness that the lawyers should have woolen, black coats that go up to their knees have to wear according to our regulation, so that these rascals can be recognized from afar ”.
