Forlorn hope

A forlorn hope is a band of soldiers or other combatants chosen to take the leading part in a military operation, such as an assault on a defended position, where the risk of casualties is high.

Etymology

The term comes from the Dutch verloren hoop, literally "lost troop". The Dutch word "hoop" can mean "hope" but is in this context etymologically equivalent to the English word "heap". The term was used in military contexts to denote a troop formation. The Dutch word hoop (in its sense of heap in English) is not cognate with English hope: this is an example of false folk etymology. The mistranslation of "verloren hoop" as "forlorn hope" is "a quaint misunderstanding" using the nearest-sounding English words. This false etymology is further entrenched by the fact that in Dutch the word hoop is a homograph meaning "hope" as well as "heap", though the two senses have different etymologies.

History

In the days of muzzle-loading muskets, the term was most frequently used to refer to the first wave of soldiers attacking a breach in defences during a siege. It was likely that most members of the forlorn hope would be killed or wounded. The intention was that some would survive long enough to seize a foothold that could be reinforced, or at least that a second wave with better prospects could be sent in while the defenders were reloading or engaged in mopping up the remnants of the first wave. British troops of the forlorn hope at the 1812 Siege of Badajoz carried a large (5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m) by 2 feet (0.61 m) in diameter) bag stuffed with hay or straw, which was thrown down into the enemy trenches to create a cushion and prevent injury as they jumped down.