harum-scarum

[ hair-uhm-skair-uhm, har-uhm-skar-uhm ]
/ ˈhɛər əmˈskɛər əm, ˈhær əmˈskær əm /

adjective

reckless; rash; irresponsible: He had a harum-scarum youth.
disorganized; uncontrolled.

adverb

recklessly; wildly: He ran harum-scarum all over the place.

noun

a reckless person.
reckless or unpredictable behavior or action.

Origin of harum-scarum

1665–75; earlier harum-starum rhyming compound based on obsolete hare to harass + stare

OTHER WORDS FROM harum-scarum

har·um-scar·um·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for harum-scarum

British Dictionary definitions for harum-scarum

harum-scarum
/ (ˈhɛərəmˈskɛərəm) /

adjective, adverb

in a reckless way or of a reckless nature

noun

a person who is impetuous or rash

Word Origin for harum-scarum

C17: perhaps from hare (in obsolete sense: harass) + scare, variant of stare 1; compare helter-skelter