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Added 9 October 2026

rash

/ɹæʃ/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about rash at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Any red eruption of the skin.
A series of unexpected and unpleasant occurrences.
a rash of bank robberies

adjective

Imprudently incurring risk.
do something rash that he will forever repent
Marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences.
foolhardy enough to try to seize the gun from the hijacker

Origin

The adjective is derived from Middle English rash, rasch (“hasty, headstrong, rash”) [and other forms], probably from Old English *ræsċ (“rash”) (found in derivatives such as ræsċan (“to move rapidly; to flicker; to flash; to glitter; to quiver”), ræsċettan (“to crackle, sparkle”), etc.), from Proto-West Germanic *rask, *raskī, *rasku, from Proto-Germanic *raskaz, *raskuz, *raþskaz, *raþskuz (“rash; rapid”), from Proto-Indo-European *Hreth₂- (“to run, roll”). The Middle English word was probably influenced by the cognates listed below. The adverb is derived from Middle English rashe (“quickly, rapidly”), from rash, rasch (adjective) (see above).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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