rash

[ rash ]

/ ræʃ /

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adjective, rash·er, rash·est.

acting or tending to act too hastily or without due consideration.

characterized by or showing too great haste or lack of consideration: rash promises.

Nearby words

rascal, rascality, rascally, rascasse, rase, rash, rash shirt, rasher, rashi, rashid, rashida

Origin of rash

1350–1400; Middle English; cognate with Dutch, German rasch quick, brisk, Old Norse rǫskr brave

SYNONYMS FOR rash

1 hasty, impetuous, reckless, venturous, incautious, precipitate, indiscreet, foolhardy.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rash ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR rash

1 cautious.

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Related formsrash·ly, adverbrash·ness, noun

Definition for rash (2 of 2)

rash

[ rash ]

/ ræʃ /

noun

an eruption or efflorescence on the skin.

a multitude of instances of something occurring more or less during the same period of time: a rash of robberies last month.

Origin of rash

1700–10; < French rache (obsolete), Old French rasche skin eruption, derivative of raschier to scratch, ultimately < Latin rādere to scratch

Related formsrash·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rash

And it is not clear that there have been a rash of lawsuits from outraged parents over aggressive Christmastime greetings.
A Field General in the War on Christmas|David Freedlander|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The results of that rash decision, the most dire of which has been the rise of ISIS, are now plain for us to see.
‘America in Retreat’: Why Neo-Isolationism Exploded Under Obama and What We Can Do About It|James Kirchick|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His judgments are not rash or driven by insecurity, fear, and a longing for the past.
The Walking Dead’s Luke Skywalker: Rick Grimes Is the Perfect Modern-Day Mythical Hero|Regina Lizik|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The one with the fever and the rash and the kidney failure that eventually killed her?
The Dirty Secret Doctors Don't Want You To Know|Kent Sepkowitz|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

A rash of scientific studies have proven that walking desks boost employee productivity.
Work Like Churchill-Ditch Your Office Chair and Embrace the Standing Desk|Gregory Ferenstein|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even if we could, we should be rash to get it here, for every man asks about four times as much as he expects to get.
Round the Wonderful World|G. E. Mitton
As a result of a rash blow, the Maggugan's territory is invaded and his settlement is surrounded.
The Manbos of Mindano|John M. Garvan
But it would be rash to affirm that it is not even swifter than any variation among domesticated animals.
Human Personality and its Survival of Bodily Death|Frederick W. H. Myers
All this was deliberately done by some one—would it be rash to say at once by whom?
Prince Zaleski|M.P. Shiel
If he be rash, for instance, let him seek companionship with the sluggish.
A Day's Ride|Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for rash (1 of 2)

rash

/ (ræʃ) /

adjective

acting without due consideration or thought; impetuous

characterized by or resulting from excessive haste or impetuositya rash word

Derived Formsrashly, adverbrashness, noun

Word Origin for rash

C14: from Old High German rasc hurried, clever; related to Old Norse roskr brave

British Dictionary definitions for rash (2 of 2)

rash

/ (ræʃ) /

noun

pathol any skin eruption

a series of unpleasant and unexpected occurrencesa rash of forest fires

Derived Formsrashlike, adjective

Word Origin for rash

C18: from Old French rasche, from raschier to scratch, from Latin rādere to scrape

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rash (1 of 2)

rash

adj.

late 14c., "nimble, quick, vigorous" (early 14c. as a surname), a Scottish and northern word, perhaps from Old English -ræsc (cf. ligræsc "flash of lightning") or one of its Germanic cognates, from Proto-Germanic *raskuz (cf. Middle Low German rasch, Middle Dutch rasc "quick, swift," German rasch "quick, fast"). Related to Old English horsc "quick-witted." Sense of "reckless, impetuous, heedless of consequences" is attested from c.1500. Related: Rashly; rashness.

Word Origin and History for rash (1 of 2)

rash

"eruption of small red spots on skin," 1709, perhaps from French rache "a sore" (Old French rasche "rash, scurf"), from Vulgar Latin *rasicare "to scrape" (also source of Old Provençal rascar, Spanish rascar "to scrape, scratch," Italian raschina "itch"), from Latin rasus "scraped," past participle of radere "to scrape" (see raze). The connecting notion would be of itching. Figurative sense of "any sudden outbreak or proliferation" first recorded 1820.

rash

adjective, rash·er, rash·est.

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Nearby words

Origin of rash

Definition for rash (2 of 2)

rash

noun

Origin of rash

Examples from the Web for rash

British Dictionary definitions for rash (1 of 2)

rash

adjective

Word Origin for rash

British Dictionary definitions for rash (2 of 2)

rash

noun

Word Origin for rash

Word Origin and History for rash (1 of 2)

rash

Word Origin and History for rash (1 of 2)

rash

Medicine definitions for rash

rash

n.