DERRING-DO

derring-do, valour, chivalrous conduct, or "desperate courage," as it is defined by sir walter scott. the word in its present accepted substantival form is a misconstruction of the verbal substantive _dorryng_ or _durring_, daring, and _do_ or _don_, the present infinitive of "do," the phrase _dorryng do_ thus meaning "daring to do." it is used by chaucer in _troylus_, and by lydgate in the _chronicles of troy_. spenser in the _shepherd's calendar_ first adapted _derring-do_ as a substantive meaning "manhood and chevalrie," and this use was revived by scott, through whom it came into vogue with writers of romance.