Robert Westbrook

May 24, 2023 | daily.jstor.org | Betsy Golden Kellem |William Goldman |Robert Westbrook |Jacob Smith

The icon indicates free access to the linked research on JSTOR. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “daredevil” first entered the English language in the late eighteenth century, when it defined a person or action characterized by a reckless sense of daring. And if you hear that word and you happen to be of my particular vintage, it’s Evel Knievel that probably leaps to mind.

May 24, 2023 | exbulletin.com | William Goldman |Robert Westbrook |Aimee Nezhukumatathil

According to Oxford English Dictionary, the word daredevil first entered the English language in the late 18th century, when it defined a person or action characterized by a reckless sense of daring. And if you hear that word and you’re from my particular vintage, it’s probably Evel Knievel that comes to mind. From the 1960s until around 1980, Knievel was best known for his ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps over all sorts of dangerous objects, lines of vehicles or geographical features.