Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RASH, a. [D. and G. rasch, quick; Sw. and Dan. rask, id.; Sax. hrad, hræd, hræth, quick, hasty, ready, and hræs, ræs, impetus, force, and hreosan, reosan, ræsan, to rush. See Ready and Rush. The sense is advancing, pushing forward. Class Rd, No. 5, 9.]

1. Hasty in council or action; precipitate; resolving or entering on a project or measure without due deliberation and caution, and thus encountering unnecessary hazard; applied to persons; as, a rash statesman or minister; a rash commander.
2. Uttered or undertaken with too much baste or too little reflection; as, rash words; rash measures.
3. Requiring haste; urgent. I have scarce leisure to salute you, / My matter is so rash. – Shak.
4. Quick; sudden; as, rash gunpowder. [Not in use.]