daredevil meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

daredevil

noun

UK /ˈdɛədɛvəl/

Etymology From dare + devil; an exocentric compound, "one who dares the devil".

A person who engages in very risky behavior, especially one who is motivated by a craving for excitement or attention.

Even as a youngster, Steven was a bit of a daredevil riding up homemade wooden ramps on his BMX.

adj

Etymology From dare + devil; an exocentric compound, "one who dares the devil".

Recklessly bold; adventurous.

The climactic scene of “Rebel without a Cause” is the group of very daredevil teens playing chicken.
Not only do they glide gracefully with burdens on their heads, they bend to pick money that has been flung at them; dash across roads with cars zooming by and the most daredevil do all this with a child strapped to their back.2012, Chibundu Onuzo, The Spider King’s Daughter, Faber and Faber (2013), page 27:

verb

Etymology From dare + devil; an exocentric compound, "one who dares the devil".

To behave in a reckless, adventurous, or physically risky manner.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.