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Definition of Harum-scarum
1. Adverb. In a wild or reckless manner. "Running pell-mell up the stairs"
2. Adjective. Cheerfully irresponsible. "Had a harum-scarum youth"
Similar to: Irresponsible
Derivative terms: Carefreeness
3. Noun. A reckless impetuous irresponsible person.
Generic synonyms: Adventurer, Venturer
Specialized synonyms: Tearaway
Derivative terms: Daredevil
Definition of Harum-scarum
1. Adjective. wild, careless, irresponsible ¹
2. Adverb. wildly, carelessly, irresponsibly ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Lexicographical Neighbors of Harum-scarum
Literary usage of Harum-scarum
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. A Series of Letters from London Written During the Years 1856, '57, '58, '59 by George Mifflin Dallas, Julia Dallas (1869)
"Don't abase me for this harum-scarum style of epistle. If I stopped long enough
to arrange ideas and words, I should be worse fagged than I was in shooting, ..."
2. The Universal Songster: Or, Museum of Mirth: Forming the Most Complete (1834)
"Her form it was slim, and her figure was tight, Harum, scarum, jig. Her pretty
turned ancle, it ravished me quite, She'd Caper and frisk it from morning ..."
3. Cumberland's British Theatre: With Remarks, Biographical & Critical. Printed by Thomas Dolby, George Damiel, D. G., G. D., John Cumberland (1826)
"So sweetly she sung, that she rival'd the lark i Harum, scarum, jig -. ...
she sung like an owl in the dark : Harum, scarum, jig : So sweetly she sung, ..."
4. Cumberland's British Theatre: With Remarks, Biographical and Critical by John Cumberland (1828)
"With her rumbling, tumbling, Galloping, grumbling; O such a dancer! Gemini,
Cancer, Harum, scarum, jig ! [Exit, L. SCENE II.-An Apartment in Sir Timothy ..."
5. The Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of the Picturesque by William Combe (1838)
"... With harum scarum, &c. &c. We'll all to the castle go, Like grenadiers all of
a row, While the horn and trump shall sound As we pace the ramparts round, ..."
6. Notes and Queries by Martim de Albuquerque (1853)
"harum-scarum.—” A low but frequent expression applied to flighty persons ; persons
always in respecting its origin : the most probable seems to a hurry” ..."
7. The Counting-out Rhymes of Children: Their Antiquity, Origin, and Wide by Henry Carrington Bolton (1888)
"GROUP V.—" ONE'S ALL, TWO'S ALL," ETC. 531. One is all, two is all, zick is all
zan. Bobtail vinegar, tickle'em tan. Harum, scarum, Virginia, merum, Tee, ..."
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