foolhardy, a.
(ˈfuːlˌhɑːdɪ)
[a. OF. fol hardi, comb. of fol foolish, fool a. with hardi bold, hardy a.]
Daring without judgement, foolishly adventurous or bold, rashly venturesome.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 62 Nis heo to muche cang, oðer to fol⁓herdi. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 667 Þou were euer so fole hardy. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. xxx. 78 How dar ther ony man ben so fole hardy for to dampnen hym seluen. 1508 Fisher 7 Penit. Ps. Wks. 104 Theyr fole⁓hardy Iugement. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. ii. 153 A rasche, ferce, and fulehardie ȝoung man. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) II. 302 He runs on boldly like a foolhardy Wit. 1796 Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1845) II. 244 If they really are so fool-hardy as to go to war to please the French. 1860 Holland Miss Gilbert xxiv. 418 Do not be guilty of this foolhardy business again. |
Hence ˈfoolˌhardily adv. Also ˈfoolˌhardihood, † foolhardiship = foolhardiness.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 182 Vor moni makeð hire sec þuruh hire fol herdischipe. 1382 Wyclif 2 Sam. xviii. 13 If I hadde doon aȝens my soul foolhardili. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xix. iv. 127 Who..used foole-hardily to sallie forth and fight most courageously. 1837 Southey in Q. Rev. LIX. 306 Two brothers had the foolhardihood to wait till midnight in the church-porch. 1879 G. Macdonald Sir Gibbie xix. 102, I would not foolhardily add to my many risks of blundering. |