- daredevil (n.)
- 1794, "recklessly daring person," from dare (v.) + devil (n.). The devil might refer to the person, or the sense might be "one who dares the devil." Compare scarecrow, killjoy, pickpocket (n.), cutthroat, also fear-babe a 16c. word for "something that frightens children;" kill-devil "bad rum." As an adjective, from 1832.