rash

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   imprudently incurring risk

   I'm afraid that I'm so angry, I might do something rash.

2. 2
   noun

   a series of unexpected and unpleasant occurrences

   a rash of bank robberies

3. 3
   adj

   Acting too quickly without considering the consequences and risks; not careful; hasty.

   rash words spoken in the heat of debate

4. 4
   adj

   Requiring swift action; pressing; urgent.

   My Lord, I ſcarce haue leiſure to ſalute you, / My matter is ſo raſh: […]

5. 5
   adj

   Taking effect quickly and strongly; fast-acting.

   [T]he vnited veſſel of their bloud, / […] / Shall neuer leake, though it doe vvorke as ſtrong, / As Aconitum, or raſh gunpovvder.

6. 6
   adv

   Synonym of rashly (“in a rash manner; hastily or without due consideration”).

   Soft Gooddie Sheepe (then ſaid the Foxe) not ſoe: / Vnto the King ſo raſh ye may not goe, / He is vvith greater matter buſied, / Than a Lambe, or the Lambes ovvne mothers hed.

7. 7
   noun

   An area of inflamed and irritated skin characterized by reddened spots that may be filled with fluid or pus. Also, preceded by a descriptive word (rare or obsolete), an illness characterized by a type of rash.

   He came out in a rash because of an allergy.

8. 8
   noun

   An outbreak or surge in problems; a spate, string, or trend.

   There has been a rash of vandalism lately.

Etymology

Probably a variant of race, raze (“to demolish; to destroy, obliterate; to scrape as if with a razor”), possibly modelled after rash (etymology 5 or etymology 6). Raze is derived from Middle English rasen, racen, rase (“to scrape; to shave; to erase; to pull; to strip off; to pluck or tear out; to root out (a tree, etc.); to pull away, snatch; to pull down; to knock down; to rend, tear apart; to pick clean, strip; to cleave, slice; to sever; to lacerate; to pierce; to carve, engrave; to dig; (figuratively) to expunge, obliterate; to alter”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman raser, rasere, r…