harum-scarum

English

Etymology

Uncertain. Likely from hare (“harass, harry”) 'em (“them”) and scare 'em (“frighten them”);[1][2] alternately the first element may be from hare (“rabbit-like animals”),[3] or the second element may be a variant of stare.[4] Attested from the late 17th century.

Pronunciation
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌhɛəɹəmˈskɛəɹəm/

Adjective

harum-scarum (not comparable)

  1. wild, careless, irresponsible
    • 1832, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Eugene Aram
      Lester's good heart will be to hear that little Peter is so improved;--no longer a dissolute, harum-scarum fellow, throwing away his money, and always in debt.

Translations

Adverb

harum-scarum (not comparable)

  1. wildly, carelessly, irresponsibly
    • 1800, Maria Edgeworth, Castle Rackrent
      […] for he never looked after anything at all, but harum-scarum called for everything as if we were conjurors, or he in a public-house.

Noun

harum-scarum (plural harum-scarums)

  1. A giddy, rash person.

References
  1. “harum-scarum”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
  2. “harum-scarum”, in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016, →ISBN.
  3. “harum-scarum, adv., adj., n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
  4. “harum-scarum”, in Collins English Dictionary.
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