madcap
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈmædkæp/
ipa: /ˈmædˌkæp/
text: -
note: Indic
ipa: /ˈmæɖˌkæp/
Forms: form: madcaps
form: mad-cap
form: mad cap
Etymology: The noun is derived from mad + cap (“(informal) head”). The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun.
Senses: examples: text: Near-synonyms: mad lad, madlad
text: Come-on you mad-cap: Ile to the Ale-houſe vvith you preſently; […]
ref: c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v], page 27, column 1:
text: There vvas then in preſence, a certaine old Knight, called Sir Hugh Linne, a good ſouldier, but a very mad-cap, & one that liued chiefely vpon the liberalitie of noble men; […]
ref: 1599, I. Haywarde [i.e., John Hayward], The First Part of the Life and Raigne of King Henrie the IIII. […], London: […] by [Edward Allde and T. Judson for] Iohn Wolfe, […], →OCLC, page 19:
text: Lord, that ſuch a Mad-Cap as I ſhould ever live to be jealous!
ref: 1667 March 12 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), John Dryden, Secret-Love, or The Maiden-Queen: […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], published 1668, →OCLC, Act III, page 34:
text: I should like to have seen that noble old madcap Peterborough in his boots (he actually had the audacity to walk about Bath in boots!), with his blue ribbon and stars, and a cabbage under each arm, and a chicken in his hand, which he had been cheapening for his dinner.
ref: 1861 November, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, “George the First”, in The Four Georges: Sketches of Manners, Morals, Court, and Town Life, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, pages 34–35:
glosses: A person who acts in a capricious, impulsive, or reckless manner.
examples: text: [R]un around as he commands. He is a madcap and we must learn to live with him. We are in his hands.
ref: 1983, R[asipuram] K[rishnaswami] Narayan[aswami], A Tiger for Malgudi, New Delhi; Navrangpura, Ahmedabad: Allied Publishers [in arrangement with William Heinemann], →OCLC, page 50:
synonyms: word: fathead
word: alcatote
word: asshat
word: arsehole
word: asshole
word: bayard
word: berk
word: birdbrain
word: blither
word: bobchin
word: bonehead
word: bozo
word: buffoon
word: brickhead
word: Charlie
word: chucklehead
word: chowderhead
word: chump
word: clart
word: clown
word: der-brain
word: dill pickle
word: dim bulb
word: dingleberry
word: dipshit
word: dipstick
word: dirtbrain
word: div
word: divvo
word: divvy
word: dolt
word: donk
word: doodle
word: doofus
word: dope
word: dork
word: dote
word: dotterel
word: dullard
word: dumbass
word: dumbbell
word: dumb fuck
word: dummy
word: dunce
word: dunderhead
word: dupe
word: fathead
word: fenderhead
word: fiddle
word: fuckwit
word: fuzznut
word: geck
word: gig
word: gink
word: goober
word: gooseberry
word: gowk
word: gubbins
word: gump
word: ha'p'orth
word: Homer Simpson
word: ignoramus
word: imbecile
word: jamoke
word: jerk
word: jerkoff
word: jolterhead
word: jolthead
word: juggins
word: jughead
word: knucklehead
word: lamebrain
word: mameluke (US (Italian-American)
word: slang)
word: maroon
word: meathead
word: mong
word: moron
word: mug
word: muggins
word: mushhead
word: nimrod
word: nincompoop
word: nit
word: nitwit
word: not the sharpest knife in the drawer
word: numskull
word: numps
word: numpty
word: nupson
word: oaf
word: pillock
word: pinhead
word: plonker
word: prat
word: retard
word: shit for brains
word: shithead
word: shitwit
word: schmo
word: schmuck
word: snapperhead
word: softhead
word: sot
word: stupid
word: sucker
word: thickhead
word: tonto
word: tool
word: tosser
word: tosspot
word: twat
word: twerp
word: twit
word: wally
word: wantwit
word: wazzock
word: yampy
glosses: A very foolish or irresponsible person; a fool, an idiot.
examples: text: VVhy vvhat a mad-cap hath heauen lent vs here?
ref: 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[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 1, column 2:
text: Bel[lamont]. […] [W]hat place is this? / May[bery]. Bedlam iſt not? / Bel. VVhere theſe mad-men are, I neuer vvas amongſt them, as you loue me Gentlemen, lets ſee vvhat Greekes are vvithin. / […] / Bell. Pray beſtovv your name ſir vpon vs. / Full. My name is Full-moone. / Bell. You vvell deſerue this office good maiſter Full-moone: and vvhat mad-caps haue you in your houſe.
ref: c. 1601 (date written), Thomas Decker [i.e., Thomas Dekker]; Iohn Webster [i.e., John Webster], North-ward Hoe. […], London: […] G[eorge] Eld, published 1607, →OCLC, Act IV, signature F3, recto:
synonyms: word: madhead
word: crazyhead
word: madman
word: basket case
word: basket weaver
word: crack
word: crackpot
word: crazy
word: crazyhead
word: dingbat
word: eccentric
word: fruit and nut case
word: fruit cake
word: fruit loop
word: fruitloop
word: head case
word: kook
word: loony
word: loony tune
word: lunatic
word: madcap
word: madhead
word: mental case
word: nut
word: nut ball
word: nutbar
word: nutburger
word: nutcase
word: nutjob
word: nutter
word: psycho
word: psychoceramic
word: schizo
word: screwball
word: space cadet
word: space pilot
word: unconventional
word: wackadoo
word: wackadoodle
word: wacko
word: whackjob
word: whacko
word: weirdo
word: wingnut
word: space case
glosses: An insane person; a lunatic.
Derived terms: madcappery