rash¹ (răsh)
adj., rash·er, rash·est.

1. Characterized by or resulting from ill-considered haste or boldness. See synonyms at reckless.
2. Archaic. Quick in producing a strong or marked effect.

[Middle English rasch, active, unrestrained, perhaps from Old English -raesc (in līgræsc, lightning) or from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German rasch, fast.]

rashly rash'ly adv.
rashness rash'ness n.

rash² (răsh)
n.

1. A skin eruption.
2. An outbreak of many instances within a brief period: a rash of burglaries.

[Possibly from obsolete French rache, a sore, from Old French rasche, scurf, from raschier, to scrape, scratch, from Vulgar Latin *rāsicāre, from Latin rāsus, past participle of rādere.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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