forˈlorn ˌhope
[ad. Du. verloren hoop (in Kilian 1598), lit. ‘lost troop’ (hoop = heap, Ger. haufen). Cf. Fr. enfants perdus. (Among sailors mispronounced flowing hope.)]
1. In early use, a picked body of men, detached to the front to begin the attack; a body of skirmishers. Now usually, a storming party.
In the 17th c. sometimes applied to the rear-guard.
| 1579 Digges Stratiot. 102 He must also so order the Forlorn hope in y⊇ front of hys Battayle with new supplies. 1581 Styward Mart. Discipl. ii. 136 The which the Germaine calls, their Forlorne hoope. 1600 J. Dymmok Ireland (1841) 32 Before the vantguarde marched the forlorn hope. 1642 True State Ireland 5 Likewise for the forlorn hope of the Rear, Captain Pate commanded 40 Dragooners. 1678 tr. Gaya's Art of War ii. 74 Called the Forlorn Hope, because they..fall on first, and make a Passage for the rest. 1799 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. I. 31 The forlorn hope of each attack consisted of a sergeant and twelve Europeans. 1874 L. Stephen Hours Libr. (1892) I. vii. 245 Compelled to lead a forlorn hope up the scaling ladders. |
b. transf. and fig., chiefly of persons in a desperate condition.
| c 1572 Gascoigne Fruits Warre (1831) 211 The forlorne hope which haue set vp their rest By rash expense, and knowe not howe to liue. 1572 J. Jones Bathes of Bath Pref. 3 A booteless matter to perswade the forlorn hope, suche as have decreed to caste awaye them selves. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) II. 11 [Object of Christ's descent into hell] To preach, useless where his auditory was all the forlorn hope. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 128 The busy apes, the Forlorn hope of these declining Woods, deeming no place safe where they beheld us. |
c. pl. The men composing such a body; hence, reckless bravos.
| 1539 Tonstall Serm. Palm Sund. (1823) 67 To make this realme a praye to al..spoylers, all snaphanses, all forlornehopes, all cormerauntes. c 1645 Tullie Siege of Carlisle (1840) 31 Toppam had y⊇ honour of y⊇ forlorn hopes, and gave them a gallant charge. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Forlorn-hopes was a term formerly applied to the videttes of the army. |
d. A perilous or desperate enterprise.
| 1768 J. Byron Narr. Wager (1778) 89 We saw them a little after, setting out upon their forlorn hope, and helping one another over..rocks. 1771 Junius Lett. lix. 311 The wary..never went upon a forlorn hope. |
2. slang. a. The losers at a gaming-table. b. (See quot. 1785.)
| 1608 Dekker Lanthorne & Candle-light D ij, They that sit downe to play, are at first called Leaders. They that loose, are the Forlorne Hope. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Forlorn Hope, losing Gamesters. 1785 Grose Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Forlorn hope, a gamester's last stake. |
3. With word-play or misapprehension of the etymology: A faint hope, a ‘hope against hope’; an enterprise which has little chance of success.
| 1641 J. Shute Sarah & Hagar (1649) 108 If we sin, upon a presumption that we shall conceal either our actions or persons from God, it is a forlorn hope; our iniquities will finde us out. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) ii. xxi, In hopes of making your hearer think that you had been only singing all the while. A forlorn hope indeed. 1885 Harper's Mag. Mar. 594/1 She had had a forlorn hope of a letter, but it had died away. |