adj. and subs. (old colloquial).—1. Giddy; careless; wild; a thoughtless or reckless fellow.
1740. Round about our Coal Fire, c. i. Peg would scuttle about to make a toast for John, while Tom run HARUM-SCARUM to draw a jug of ale for Margery.
1780. BURNEY, Diary, i., 358 [ed. 1842]. He seemed a mighty rattling HAREM-SCAREM gentleman.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. HARUM SCARUM. He was running HARUM SCARUM; said of any one running or walking carelessly, and in a hurry, after they know not what.
1836. MARRYAT, Japhet, ch. xcii. I’m not one of those HARUM-SCARUM sort, who would make up a fight when there’s no occasion for it.
1855. THACKERAY, The Newcomes, ch. v. They had a quarrel with Thomas Newcome’s own son, a HARUM-SCARUM lad, who ran away, and then was sent to India.
1870. London Figaro, 19 Oct. ‘Within an inch.’ Tom—that’s my son—has worked with me in the mine ever since he was quite a little chap; and a HARUM-SCARUM young dog he was, when a boy.
2. (sporting).—Four horses driven in a line; SUICIDE (q.v.).
