Definition of rash
archaic
: in a rash manner
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Origin and Etymology of rash
Middle English (northern dialect) rasch quickly; akin to Old High German rasc fast
First Known Use: 15th century
rash
Definition of rash
1 : marked by or proceeding from undue haste or lack of deliberation or caution a rash promise
2 obsolete : quickly effective
rashly
adverbrashness
nounExamples of rash in a Sentence
Their rash actions resulted in a serious accident that could have killed someone.
Don't be rash about this decision. Take your time.
It was rash of you to make that promise.
Did You Know?
The earliest known uses of "rash" (then spelled "rasch") occur in a northern dialect of 15th-century Middle English. Its earlier origins are not known for sure, though it is clearly related to a number of similar words in the Germanic languages, including Old High German rasc ("fast, hurried, strong, clever"), Old Norse "röskr" ("brave, vigorous"), and Middle Dutch "rasch" ("quick, nimble, agile, vigorous"). It is not, however, related to the English noun "rash" ("an eruption on the body," as in a "skin rash"). The noun "rash," which first appeared in English in the 1700s, comes by way of French and Vulgar Latin from Latin rasus, the past participle of "radere" ("to scrape" or "to shave").
1509
First Known Use of rash
1509
Synonym Discussion of rash
rash
Definition of rash
1 : an eruption on the body
2 : a large number of instances in a short period a rash of complaints
Examples of rash in a Sentence
The baby has a skin rash.
The doctor said she developed the rash because of the medicine.
I break out in a rash if I eat shellfish.
Symptoms of the disease include rash and fever.
There has been a rash of robberies in the city this summer.
Origin and Etymology of rash
probably borrowed from 17th-century French rache, rasche, going back to Middle French raiche “tinea,” noun derivative of racher “to chisel, groove (metal)” (probably also “to scrape, scratch,” senses attested in Romance cognates), going back to Vulgar Latin *rāsicāre, verb derivative from Latin rās-, participial and nominal stem of rādere “to scrape, scratch, shave” — more at rase
First Known Use: 1709
RASH Defined for English Language Learners
rash
Definition of rash for English Language Learners
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: done or made quickly and without thought about what will happen as a result
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: doing something quickly and without thinking carefully about what will happen as a result
rash
Definition of rash for English Language Learners
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: a group of red spots on the skin that is caused by an illness or a reaction to something
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: a series of usually unpleasant things or events that happen in a short period of time
RASH Defined for Kids
Definition of rash for Students
: done or made quickly and without thought of the likely result a rash decision
rashly
adverbrashness
nounDefinition of rash for Students
1 : a breaking out of the skin with red spots (as from illness or an allergic reaction)
2 : a series of bad things that happen in a short time a rash of fires
Medical Dictionary
rash
playMedical Definition of rash
: an eruption on the body typically with little or no elevation above the surface
Learn More about rash
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See words that rhyme with rash Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rash Spanish Central: Translation of rash Nglish: Translation of rash for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rash for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rash
Seen and Heard
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