neer-do-well

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Ne'er-do-well \Ne'er"-do-well`\, n.
   A person who never does, or fares, well; a good for nothing.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

         The idle and dissolute ne'er-do-wells of their
         communities.                             --Harper's
                                                  Mag.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl.]