a. [ Compar. Rasher superl. Rashest. ] [ Probably of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. rask quick, brisk, rash, Icel. röskr 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Requiring sudden action; pressing; urgent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] I scarce have leisure to salute you,
My matter is so rash. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Uttered or undertaken with too much haste or too little reflection; as, rash words; rash measures. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. So dry as to fall out of the ear with handling, as corn. [ Prov. Eng. ] Grose. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- Precipitate; headlong; headstrong; foolhardy; hasty; indiscreet; heedless; thoughtless; incautious; careless; inconsiderate; unwary. -- 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Was never known a more adventurous knight. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] Her rash hand in evil hour
Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] If any yet be so foolhardy
To expose themselves to vain jeopardy;
If they come wounded off, and lame,
No honor's got by such a maim. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
