escapade
(ɛskəˈpeɪd)
[a. Fr. escapade, ad. Sp. or Pr. escapada, f. escapar: see escape v.]
1. An act of escaping from confinement or restraint; a runaway excursion.
| 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. iv, I wish your bum-gut [may] fall out and make an escapade. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxxvi, His second escapade was made for the purpose of visiting the field of Rullion-green. 1868 E. Edwards Raleigh I. iv. 74 He tried..an escapade to the Low Countries..in a ship which lay..at Sandwich. |
b. fig. A breaking loose from restraint or rules; a flighty piece of conduct.
| 1814 Scott Wav. xxxiv, A youthful escapade, which might be easily atoned. 1827 A. Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Administr. (1837) I. 80 A young nobleman..commits an escapade (the name given to the offences of persons of quality). 1862 Mrs. H. Wood Mrs. Hallib. ii. xxiii, Anna could have died rather than suffer her escapade to reach the ears of home. 1885 Manch. Exam. 15 May 5/3 Lord R. Churchill's latest escapade..is the theme of general remark. |
† 2. Of a horse: A throwing off of control; a fit of plunging and rearing. Obs. rare.
| 1673 Dryden Conq. Granada i. i, His fiery Arab..Sprung loose, and flew into an Escapade. |