bravado

Where does the word "bravado" come from? It comes from Italian bravata, passing through Spanish before entering English (1580s).

Bravado’s story begins in Italian: bravata meant “a boastful display of courage.” A boastful display of courage, from bravare (to brave, to boast). By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as bravado. Carried into Spanish for a defiant show of confidence. It reached English by 1580s as bravado. Settled as the English word for boastful confidence. Today, bravado means a bold, swaggering display of courage or confidence, often exaggerated.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · 1500s bravata "a boastful display of courage", a boastful display of courage, from bravare (to brave, to boast).
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1500s bravado "a defiant show of confidence", carried into Spanish for a defiant show of confidence.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1580s bravado "a bold, boastful display of confidence", settled as the English word for boastful confidence.