madcap

English

Alternative forms

• mad-cap
• mad cap

Etymology

1580s, mad +‎ cap, with cap figuratively used for "head" here. Original literal sense "lunatic, crazy person", now used figuratively.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

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Adjective

madcap (comparative more madcap, superlative most madcap)

1. impulsive, hasty or reckless; capricious.

   The film featured a madcap car chase that went right through a crowded café.

Usage notes

Especially used for adventurous activities.

Noun

madcap (plural madcaps)

1. An impulsive, hasty, capricious person.
2. (obsolete) An insane person, a lunatic.
   • 1590s, William Shakespeare, The Life and Death of King John, Act 1, Scene 1:

     Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here!

Translations

an impulsive, hasty, capricious person

• Russian: сумасбро́д (ru) (sumasbród)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

An insane person, a lunatic

• Armenian: խենթ (hy) (xentʻ)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

References

• “Off the top.”, The Word Detective, October 28, 2005
• The Shakespearian dictionary, Smith, Elder, & co., 1832, p. 189