Also 6–7 brauado, braueado, 7 brauardo, bravadoe, brevada; pl. bravadoes (also -os). [ad. Sp. bravada and F. bravade: see BRAVADE and -ADO 2.]
1. Boastful or threatening behavior; ostentatious display of courage or boldness; bold or daring action intended to intimidate or to express defiance; often, an assumption of courage or hardihood to conceal felt timidity, or to carry one out of a doubtful or difficult position.
Now usually in the singular, without a: less commonly a bravado or in pl.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 287. It was not that Spanish brauado.
1626. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 62. To sound vainglorious Brauado’s.
1630. Brathwait, Eng. Gentl. (1641), 110. These Gamesters, who in a bravado will set their patrimonies at a throw.
1645. Milton, Colast., Wks. (1851), 362. Hee retreats with a bravado, that it deservs no answer.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 128. Notwithstanding all his Bravadoes, he [Shame] promoteth the Fool, and none else.
a. 1707. Bp. Patrick, Serm. 1 Sam. xvii. 8. To have been done out of a bravado.
1800. Weems, Washington, x. (1877), 119. To hear their bravadoes, one would suppose, [etc.].
1816. Jane Austen, Emma, II. viii. 181. A sort of bravado—an air of affected unconcern.
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, Introd. A series of idle bravadoes.
1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xvii. 214. We may do it in bravado or in wantonness.
† b. To make or give a bravado: to make a display in the face of the enemy, to offer battle. Obs.
1600. Holland, Livy, III. lx. 128. When they made bravadoes, and challenged them to come forth and fight, not one Romane would answer them again.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. II. ii. 164. That some foote should be drawne out of the Campe, to give the Spaniards a brauado.
1688. Lond. Gaz., No. 2361/3. A Party of the Moors making a Bravado.
c. attrib.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. 50. The barbers … haue one maner of cut called the French cut … one of the brauado fashion.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, V. iv. 204. It is a day … of hopes and fears … bravado bets and secret hedging.
† 2. A swaggering fellow, a hector, a bravo. Obs. [app. after Sp. masculines in -ado already used in Eng., as desperado, renegado, etc. Cf. bravo.]
1653. A. Wilson, Jas. I., 28. Roaring Boys, Bravadoes, Roysters, &c. commit many insolencies.
1668. Pepys, Diary, 28 Feb. The Hectors & bravadoes of the House.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., II. xxi. 121. But idlers and bravadoes … must beware.
1825. Knapp & Baldw., Newgate Cal., III. 397/2. Webb … was the greatest bravado.
Hence Bravadoism. rare.
1833. Fraser’s Mag., VIII. 527. Was … his apparent strength and defiance, real weakness and bravadoism?
