rakish

¹

[ rey-kish ]

adjective

1. like a rake; dissolute:

   rakish behavior.

rakish

²

[ rey-kish ]

adjective

1. smart; jaunty; dashing:

   a hat worn at a rakish angle.

   Synonyms: breezy, debonair, dapper, sporting

2. (of a vessel) having an appearance suggesting speed.

rakish

¹

/ ˈreɪkɪʃ /

adjective

1. dissolute; profligate

rakish

²

/ ˈreɪkɪʃ /

adjective

1. dashing; jaunty

   a hat set at a rakish angle

2. nautical (of a ship or boat) having lines suggestive of speed

Derived Forms

• ˈrakishly, adverb
• ˈrakishness, noun

Other Words From

• rakish·ly adverb
• rakish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rakish¹

First recorded in 1700–10; rake ² + -ish ¹

Origin of rakish²

First recorded in 1815–25; rake ³ + -ish ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rakish¹

C18: from rake ² + -ish

Origin of rakish²

C19: probably from rake ³ (sense 1), with reference to the sloping masts of pirate ships

Example Sentences

Like Uranus itself, its moons are tilted at a rakish, 98-degree angle.

From Nautilus

The Daily Beast’s portrait of Gaetz as a man-about-town is less rakish than sleazy.

From TIme

Last of Robin Hood also centers on a young woman who falls for a rakish older movie star.

From The Daily Beast

The prince was rakish and clever and yes, even charming at times.

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes his leather jackets were sporty and rakish, at others they were sculpted into prim, hourglass shapes.

From The Daily Beast

It was a little on one side and gave the good clergyman a decidedly rakish appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

It sat on one side of her ill-kept head, giving her a singularly rakish and definite appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

He is a rakish looking fellow, dressed in smart but cheap clothing.

From Project Gutenberg

Captain Smith and his men knew who manned those long, low, rakish-looking frigates.

From Project Gutenberg

He even sought an interview with Pappoose and asked her to describe the rakish traveler who had so unfavorably impressed her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dashing
• jaunty
• profligate
• raffish
• saucy
• sporty