madlad

See also: mad lad

English

Etymology

Compound of mad +‎ lad. The Reddit sense originates from the r/madlads subreddit, created on October 19, 2015.

Noun

madlad (plural madlads)

1. (Internet slang, Reddit slang) Someone (either male or of unspecified gender) who does something particularly impressive and audacious.

   Coordinate term: madlady

   Some madlad hacked the school website to give everyone an extra day off.

   • 2019 July 28, “[Misc] Tattoo Update!”, in Reddit‎^[1], r/hajimenoippo, archived from the original on 6 April 2024:

     this is nothing when compared to the true madlad. I'm still waiting for one of you to get green fire tattooed on your eyeball

   • 2020, Victoria Lee, The Electric Heir, New York: Skyscape, →ISBN, page 366:

     "I think I might keep going a little farther," Noam said, once he was confident he could say that much without gagging on his own arrhythmic inhales. "Gonna try to get to thirteen." ¶ "You," Taye said, "are an absolute madlad."

   • 2021 January 26, u/UBCStudent9929, “GME YOLO update — Jan 26 2021”, in Reddit‎^[2], r/wallstreetbets, archived from the original on 6 April 2024:

     This fucking madlad gained 9 MILLION today and did not cash out a single cent. ¶ Adamantium balls

   • 2021 November 9, u/Arctic_Chilean, “Chilean president Piñera impeached over Pandora papers revelations”, in Reddit‎^[3], r/worldnews, archived from the original on 6 April 2024:

     Meanwhile one congressman spoke for 15 hours in a record filibuster in order to delay the session so a fellow congressman could attend the vote, thus securing an extra vote in favor of impeachment. The madlad read a 1300 page speech.

   • 2024 March 13, u/mechwarrior719, “Guy I swear I didn't do it (maybe)”, in Reddit‎^[4], r/NonCredibleDefense, archived from the original on 6 April 2024:

     Alright. My NCD prediction is some madlads in a US Navy submarine sneak into the Black Sea to do a bit o' trolling.

2. Alternative form of mad lad (“a young man who engages in dangerous behaviour”)
   • 2011, Phil Foglio, Kaja Foglio, Agatha H. And the Airship City: A Girl Genius Novel, San Francisco, C.A.: Night Shade Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 119:

     Sleipnir noticed the direction of Agatha's gaze. "Those are Radioheads," she whispered. "The Baron acquired them from some madlad he had to put down in Albania a few years ago. He figured if he could build fighters without brains, they wouldn't get scared or feel pain or worry about dyin'. The Baron doesn't use them off the Castle, because they creep people out too much."

See also

• madman

 

References

• “Mad Lad / Madlad”, in Know Your Meme, launched 2007