c.1300, "non-Christian, pagan, infidel;" early 15c., "heretical, unbelieving," from Old French mescreant "disbelieving" (Modern French mécréant), from mes- "wrongly" (see mis-(2)) + creant, present participle of creire "believe," from Latin credere (see credo). Meaning "villainous" is from 1590s.

late 14c., "heathen, Saracen," from miscreant, adj. or from Old French mescreant, which also had a noun sense of "infidel, pagan, heretic." Sense of "villain" first recorded 1590 in Spenser.