madcap
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
1580s, mad + cap,[1] with cap figuratively used for "head" here. Original literal sense "lunatic, crazy person", now used figuratively.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
madcap (comparative more madcap, superlative most madcap)
- Hasty, impulsive, or reckless; capricious.
- The film featured a madcap car chase that went right through a crowded café.
- 1820 January 1, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Christmas Eve”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number V, New York, N.Y.: […] C. S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 389:
- The young Oxonian, on the contrary, had led out one of his maiden aunts, on whom the rogue played a thousand little knaveries with impunity; he was full of practical jokes, and his delight was to tease his aunts and cousins; yet, like all mad-cap youngsters, he was a universal favourite among the women.
- 2020 March 25, Steve Roberts, “Parly-vous?”, in Rail, page 68:
- My madcap plan was to catch that 0456, then hang about – probably for the 0624.
Usage notes edit
Especially used for adventurous activities.
collocations with madcap
- madcap plan
- madcap idea
- madcap activity
Noun edit
madcap (plural madcaps)
- An impulsive, hasty, capricious person.
- (obsolete) An insane person, a lunatic.
- c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
- Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here!
Translations edit
an impulsive, hasty, capricious person
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An insane person, a lunatic
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References edit
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “madcap”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- “Off the top.”, The Word Detective, October 28, 2005
- The Shakespearian dictionary, Smith, Elder, & co., 1832, p. 189