Rash \Rash\, a. [Compar. Rasher; superl. Rashest.]
[Probably
of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. rask quick, brisk, rash,
Icel. r["o]skr vigorous, brave, akin to D. & G. rasch quick,
of uncertain origin.]
1. Sudden in action; quick; hasty. [Obs.]
``Strong as
aconitum or rash gunpowder.'' --Shak.
2. Requiring sudden action; pressing; urgent. [Obs.]
I scarce have leisure to salute you, My matter is so
rash. --Shak.
3. Esp., overhasty in counsel or action; precipitate;
resolving or entering on a project or measure without due
deliberation and caution; opposed to prudent; said of
persons; as, a rash statesman or commander.
4. Uttered or undertaken with too much haste or too little
reflection; as, rash words; rash measures.
5. So dry as to fall out of the ear with handling, as corn.
[Prov. Eng.]
Syn: Precipitate; headlong; headstrong; foolhardy; hasty;
indiscreet; heedless; thoughtless; incautious; careless;
inconsiderate; unwary.
Usage: Rash, Adventurous, Foolhardy. A man is
adventurous who incurs risk or hazard from a love of
the arduous and the bold. A man is rash who does it
from the mere impulse of his feelings, without
counting the cost. A man is foolhardy who throws
himself into danger in disregard or defiance of the
consequences.
Was never known a more adventurous knight.
--Dryden.
Her rush hand in evil hour Forth reaching to the
fruit, she plucked, she eat. --Milton.
If any yet to be foolhardy To expose themselves
to vain jeopardy; If they come wounded off, and
lame, No honors got by such a maim. --Hudibras.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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