forlorn hope

forlorn hope ExamplesWord Origin noun

1. a perilous or desperate enterprise.
2. a vain hope.
3. Obsolete. a group of soldiers assigned to perform some unusually dangerous service.

Origin of forlorn hope 1530–40; folk-etymological alteration of Dutch verloren hoop literally, lost troop Examples from the Web for forlorn hope Historical Examples of forlorn hope

Dick Prince was the only one who lost his life in the “forlorn-hope.”

Ungava

R.M. Ballantyne

But Skinflint is an invaluable fellow to lead a forlorn-hope.

Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 69, No. 427, May, 1851

Various

For what seemed like an age there was no sign of our forlorn-hope swimmer.

Pirates’ Hope

Francis Lynde

No quest is too perilous for him, no forlorn-hope too daring.

God and Mr. Wells

William Archer

Mackinnon had promised a company to the forlorn-hope leader, if he survived.

Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 61, No. 378, April, 1847

Various

British Dictionary definitions for forlorn hope forlorn hope noun

1. a hopeless or desperate enterprise
2. a faint hope
3. obsolete a group of soldiers assigned to an extremely dangerous duty

Word Origin for forlorn hope C16 (in the obsolete sense): changed (by folk etymology) from Dutch verloren hoop lost troop, from verloren, past participle of verliezen to lose + hoop troop (literally: heap)