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Derring-do is a quirky holdover from Middle English that came to occupy its present place in the language by a series of mistakes and misunderstandings. In Middle English, dorring don meant simply "daring to do." The phrase was misprinted as derrynge do in a 15th-century work by poet John Lydgate, and Edmund Spenser took it up from there. (A glossary to Spenser's work defined it as "manhood and chevalrie.") Literary author Sir Walter Scott and others brought the noun into modern use.
Examples of derring-do in a Sentence
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When the Black Queen’s message arrives in the Riverlands, the king consort, lil’ Oscar Tully, and their new pal Roddy the Ruin are busy reveling, making up ballads dedicated to their own derring-do.
—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 June 2026
The storied Canadian hotel sits directly above Montreal Central Station, built with all manner of engineering derring-do to reduce the vibration of the trains below.
—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
His dumb derring-do went viral on VHS tapes, earning him an MTV show and five feature films.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
This is a prime example of the Pixar canon’s ability to weave real feeling into the scenario, without sacrificing humor or derring-do.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for derring-do
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Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 June 2026
The storied Canadian hotel sits directly above Montreal Central Station, built with all manner of engineering derring-do to reduce the vibration of the trains below.
—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
His dumb derring-do went viral on VHS tapes, earning him an MTV show and five feature films.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
This is a prime example of the Pixar canon’s ability to weave real feeling into the scenario, without sacrificing humor or derring-do.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for derring-do
Cite this Entry
“Derring-do.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derring-do. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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