v. & n.
--v.
1. intr. rush hastily or forcefully (dashed up the stairs).
2 tr. strike or fling with great force, esp. so as to shatter (dashed it to the ground; the cup was dashed from my hand).
3 tr. frustrate, daunt, dispirit (dashed their hopes).
4 tr. colloq. (esp. dash it or dash it all) DAMN v. 1.
--n.
1. a rush or onset; a sudden advance (made a dash for shelter).
2 a horizontal stroke in writing or printing to mark a pause or break in sense or to represent omitted letters or words.
3 impetuous vigour or the capacity for this.
4 showy appearance or behaviour.
5 US a sprinting-race.
6 the longer signal of the two used in Morse code (cf. DOT(1) n. 3).
7 a slight admixture, esp. of a liquid.
8 DASHBOARD.
Phrases and idioms:
cut a dash make a brilliant show. dash down (or off) write or finish hurriedly.
Etymology: ME, prob. imit.