Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Rash?

\Rash\, v. t. [For arace] 1. To pull off or pluck violently. [Obs.] 2. To slash; to hack; to slice. [Obs.] Rushing of helms and riving plates asunder. --Spenser.
\Rash\, n. [OF. rashe an eruption, scurf, F. rache; fr. (assumed) LL. rasicare to scratch, fr. L. radere, rasum, to scrape, scratch, shave. See {Rase}, and cf. {Rascal}.] (Med.) A fine eruption or efflorescence on the body, with little or no elevation. {Canker rash}. See in the Vocabulary. {Nettle rash}. See {Urticaria}. {Rose rash}. See {Roseola}. {Tooth rash}. See {Red-gum}.
\Rash\, n. [Cf. F. ras short-nap cloth, It. & Sp. raso satin (cf. {Rase}); or cf. It. rascia serge, G. rasch, probably fr. Arras in France (cf. {Arras}).] An inferior kind of silk, or mixture of silk and worsted. [Obs.] --Donne.
\Rash\, a. [Compar. {Rasher}; superl. {Rashest}.] [Probably of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. rask quick, brisk, rash, Icel. r["o]skr vigorous, brave, akin to D. & G. rasch quick, of uncertain origin.] 1. Sudden in action; quick; hasty. [Obs.] ``Strong as aconitum or rash gunpowder.'' --Shak. 2. Requiring sudden action; pressing; urgent. [Obs.] I scarce have leisure to salute you, My matter is so rash. --Shak. 3. Esp., overhasty in counsel or action; precipitate; resolving or entering on a project or measure without due deliberation and caution; opposed to prudent; said of persons; as, a rash statesman or commander. 4. Uttered or undertaken with too much haste or too little reflection; as, rash words; rash measures. 5. So dry as to fall out of the ear with handling, as corn. [Prov. Eng.] Syn: Precipitate; headlong; headstrong; foolhardy; hasty; indiscreet; heedless; thoughtless; incautious; careless; inconsiderate; unwary. Usage: {Rash}, {Adventurous}, {Foolhardy}. A man is adventurous who incurs risk or hazard from a love of the arduous and the bold. A man is rash who does it from the mere impulse of his feelings, without counting the cost. A man is foolhardy who throws himself into danger in disregard or defiance of the consequences. Was never known a more adventurous knight. --Dryden. Her rush hand in evil hour Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat. --Milton. If any yet to be foolhardy To expose themselves to vain jeopardy; If they come wounded off, and lame, No honors got by such a maim. --Hudibras.
\Rash\, v. t. To prepare with haste. [Obs.] --Foxe.