derring do, derring-do pseudo-archaism.
In 4–5 dorryng, (dorynge, duryng) don (do, to do), 5 doryng(e do, 6 derrynge do, derring doe, 9 derring-do.
The two words durring, dorryng, daring, vbl. n. from durran, dorren to dare, and don, do, pres. inf. of do v., literally daring to do, which, by a chain of misunderstandings and errors, have come to be treated as a kind of substantive combination, taken to mean, Daring action or feats, ‘desperate courage’.
The words come incidentally in their ordinary sense and construction followed by the object ‘that’ (= what, that which) in Chaucer's Troylus; whence, in an imitative passage by Lydgate, in an absolute construction more liable to misunderstanding; Lydgate's dorryng do was misprinted in the 16th c. editions (1513 and 1555) derrynge do, in which form it was picked up by Spenser and misconstrued as a subst. phrase, explained in the Glossary to the Sheph. Cal. as ‘manhood and chevalrie’. Modern romantic writers, led by Sir W. Scott, have taken it from Spenser, printed it derring-do, and accentuated the erroneous use.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 837 Troylus was neuere vn-to no wight..in no degre secounde, In dorryng don [v. rr. duryng do, dorynge to do] þat longeth to a knyght..His herte ay wiþ þe firste and wiþ þe beste Stod paregal, to dorre don [v. rr. durre to do, dore don] that hym leste. 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. xvi. (MSS. Digby 232 lf. 56 a/2; 230 lf. 81 a/1), And parygal, of manhode and of dede, he [Troylus] was to any þat I can of rede, In dorryng [v. rr. doryng(e] do, this noble worþy wyght, Ffor to fulfille þat longeþ to a knyȝt, The secounde Ector..he called was. [edd. 1513, 1555 In derrynge do, this noble worthy wyght.] 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Oct. 65 For ever who in derring doe were dreade, The loftie verse of hem was loved aye. [Gloss., In derring doe, in manhood and chevalrie.] Ibid. Dec. 43, I durst in derring do [mispr. to] compare With shepheards swayne. 1590 ― F.Q. ii. iv. 42 Drad for his derring doe and bloody deed. 1596 Ibid. vi. v. 37 A man of mickle name, Renowned much in armes and derring doe. 1820 Scott Ivanhoe xxix, Singular..if there be two who can do a deed of such derring-do. [Note. Derring-do, desperate courage.] 1843 Lytton Last Bar. i. vi, Such wonders and derring-do are too solemn for laughter. 1866 G. W. Dasent Gisli 107 Such a deed of derring-do would long be borne in mind. 1885 Burton Arab. Nts. (1887) III. 433 Who is for duello, who is for derring-do, who is for knightly devoir? |
So † derring doers, daring doers; † derring-deed; † der-doing, q.v.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. ii. 38 Dreadful derring dooers. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. vi. v. 66 That Mantuan swain, who chang'd his slender reed..From Corydon to Turnus derring-deed. |