foolhardyadj.n.
/ˈfuːlˌhɑːdi/, U.S. /ˈfulˌ(h)ɑrdi/ A. adj.
1. Recklessly bold or rash; foolishly adventurous or daring.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > daring > reckless daring > [adjective] > foolhardy
foolhardy?c1225
foolish hardy1517
coll-hardy1581
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 51 Nis ha muche chang oðer to fol hardi.
c1330 Sir Orfeo (Auch.) (1966) l. 426 Y no fond neuer so fole-hardi man Þat hider to ous durst wende.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 665 Ȝyf þou were euer so fole hardy To swere grete oþys grysly.
1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) iv. xxx. f. lxxvj How dar ther ony man be so fole hardy for to dampnen hym seluen.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 153 A rasche, ferce, and fulehardie ȝoung man.
1613 F. Beaumont Knight of Burning Pestle iii. sig. G1 Foole-hardy Knight, full soone thou shalt aby This fond reproach, thy body will I bang.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) II. 302 He runs on boldly like a foolhardy Wit.
1796 Ld. Nelson in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) II. 244 If they really are so fool-hardy as to go to war to please the French.
1847 C. Tilt Boat & Caravan v. 103 A foolhardy soldier some years ago fired his musket at one [tombstone], and the hole he made was pointed out by the guide.
1949 H. Wilcox White Stranger ix. 201 A wildly irresponsible and foolhardy gambler.
2020 Canberra Times (Nexis) 1 Feb. 11 Through one of the vents, red hot coals glow like lava... It's just one of many perils facing anyone foolhardy enough to wander onto burnt ground.
2. Of an action, behaviour, belief, etc.: resulting from or characterized by undue haste or a lack of consideration; rash, reckless.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [adjective] > specifically of actions
foolhardyc1390
unwarea1395
uncircumspect1563
unwary1610
unguarded1714
off guard1937
c1390 (c1350) in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 180 Þerfore make ow alle Redi To take hit not as fool-hardi.
c1443 R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1927) 444 Þanne is þi bileeue and feiþ presumptuose and foolhardy, bi cause he lackiþ sufficient fundament and ground.
1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. kk.iv Theyr folehardy Iugement.
1563 D. Fergusson Answer Epist. R. Benedict sig. Bv Beggerly cerimonies inuented by the foolhardy and rashe conceat of man.
1661 J. Gadbury Britains Royal Star 12 It is a practise among the ignorantly resolute, in shewing a Fool-hardy valour.
1713 in Poems & Transl. (1714) 18 Here the Poet chides himself for his Fool-hardy Undertaking in the first Part; and begins to take up.
1831 New Eng. Mag. Sept. 234 He has had the foolhardy audacity to show his ugly face.
1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career xxiv. 418 Do not be guilty of this foolhardy business again.
1928 Minnesota Hist. 9 361 It would have been foolhardy to attempt to travel at night on a river hitherto unnavigated by steamboats.
2018 Money Life (Nexis) 11 June The future is uncertain and investing large sums in long term projects is a brave and at times, a foolhardy decision.
B. n.
With the and plural agreement. Foolhardy people as a class. Also occasionally with singular agreement: a person who is foolhardy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > daring > reckless daring > [noun] > one who is recklessly daring
foolhardya1382
kill-devila1593
daredevil1794
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Ecclus. viii. 19 (MED) With þe fool hardi go þou not in to desert, for as noȝt is anentis hym blood.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 171 (MED) Than shall he be holde hardy, and corageous, that desyryth not gret pereill, as doth the fole-hardy.
1595 A. Golding tr. J. Hurault Politicke, Moral, & Martial Disc. ii. viii. 289 The foolehardie is of the same stamp, sauing that without reason, he aduentureth vpon the things which the other dareth not vndertake.
1729 J. Gay Polly iii. viii. 59 Of all fools, the foolhardy are the greatest, for they are not even to be trusted with themselves.
1883 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 15 Sept. 538/1 It may be difficult to prevent such disasters, for the foolhardy are with us always; but something might probably be done to warn the public of the peril of choosing unusual places for bathing.
1986 New Statesman 10 Oct. 36/3 Only the foolhardy or the brave would cross the boundary without an invitation.
2012 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 23 Sept. In two years' time every new car will have to have it [sc. electronic stability control]. I hope that the foolhardy won't switch the system off to demonstrate just how good their skills are.
Derivatives
ˈfoolˌhardihood n. now rare foolhardiness; reckless daring.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > daring > reckless daring > [noun] > foolhardiness
foolhardishipa1250
foolhardinessa1398
foolhardimentc1450
foolhardicec1475
foolish hardiness1521
foolhardihood1798
1798 W. Richards Geiriadur Saesneg a Chymraeg 148/2 Fool-hardihood, Fool-hardiness, s., ynfyd-ddewredd, rhyfyg.
1837 R. Southey in Q. Rev. 59 306 Two brothers had the foolhardihood to wait till midnight in the church-porch.
1887 H. H. Bancroft Pop. Tribunals I. xxxv. 689 With his usual fool-hardihood he disregarded the warning and continued his practice of abusing law-abiding citizens.
1939 Jrnl. Philos. 36 8 Not having such an answer nor the requisite foolhardihood even if I had, I content myself with suggesting..a tentative solution.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > daring > reckless daring > [noun] > foolhardiness
foolhardishipa1250
foolhardinessa1398
foolhardimentc1450
foolhardicec1475
foolish hardiness1521
foolhardihood1798
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 80 Vor moni makeð hire sec þuruh hire fol herdischipe.
a1400 Ancrene Riwle (Pepys) (1976) 79 Many maken hem seek for her fole hardischippes and þorouȝ vncunnynge.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.?c1225