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madcap. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
madcap, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
madcap in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
1580s, mad + cap, with cap figuratively used for "head" here. Original literal sense "lunatic, crazy person", now used figuratively.
Pronunciation
Adjective
madcap (comparative more madcap, superlative most madcap)
- Hasty, impulsive, or reckless; capricious.
The film featured a madcap car chase that went right through a crowded café.
1820 January 1, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Christmas Eve”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number V, New York, N.Y.: C. S. Van Winkle, , →OCLC, page 389:The young Oxonian, on the contrary, had led out one of his maiden aunts, on whom the rogue played a thousand little knaveries with impunity; he was full of practical jokes, and his delight was to tease his aunts and cousins; yet, like all mad-cap youngsters, he was a universal favourite among the women.
2020 March 25, Steve Roberts, “Parly-vous?”, in Rail, page 68:My madcap plan was to catch that 0456, then hang about – probably for the 0624.
Usage notes
Especially used for adventurous activities.
collocations with madcap
- madcap plan
- madcap idea
- madcap activity
Noun
madcap (plural madcaps)
- An impulsive, hasty, capricious person.
- (obsolete) An insane person, a lunatic.
c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here!
Translations
an impulsive, hasty, capricious person
An insane person, a lunatic
References