madcap

== English == === Alternative forms === mad-cap, mad cap === Etymology === The noun is derived from mad +‎ cap (“(informal) head”). The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmædkæp/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈmædˌkæp/ (South Asia) IPA(key): /ˈmæɖˌkæp/ Hyphenation: mad‧cap === Noun === madcap (plural madcaps) A person who acts in a capricious, impulsive, or reckless manner. Near-synonyms: mad lad, madlad (South Asia) A very foolish or irresponsible person; a fool, an idiot. Synonyms: fathead; see also Thesaurus:fool (obsolete, rare) An insane person; a lunatic. [from late 16th c.] Synonyms: madhead, crazyhead, madman; see also Thesaurus:mad person ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === madcap (comparative more madcap, superlative most madcap) Capricious, impulsive, or reckless; also, bizarre, crazy, zany; or foolish, idiotic. a madcap activity    a madcap idea    a madcap plan ==== Usage notes ==== Especially used to refer to adventurous activities. ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === Madcap (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Thomas Dolby (1832), “Mad-cap”, in The Shakespearian Dictionary; […], London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 189. Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “madcap”, in Online Etymology Dictionary. “Off the Top”, in The Word Detective‎[2], 28 October 2005, archived from the original on 19 May 2024.