derring-do

English

Etymology

From Middle English daring (to) do, misinterpreted as a noun by Edmund Spenser.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌdɛɹɪŋˈduː/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌdɛɹɪŋˈduː/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

derring-do (uncountable)

1. Valiant deeds in desperate times.
2. Brave and adventurous (albeit often reckless) actions.

Derived terms

• derring-doery

 

Translations

valiant deeds in desperate times

• Icelandic: þrekvirki n
• Polish: bohaterstwo (pl) n

brave and adventurous actions

• Dutch: heldendaden (nl), waaghalzerij (nl)
• French: prouesse (fr) f, hauts faits (fr) m pl, exploits (fr) m pl, faits d’armes (fr) m pl, acte de bravoure m
• Italian: prodezza (it)
• Polish: brawura (pl) f, junactwo n
• Portuguese: façanha (pt) f, proeza (pt) f
• Russian: безрассудство (ru) (bezrassudstvo)
• Spanish: proeza (es), hazaña (es), gesta (es) f, hombrada f