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forlorn hope

a group of soldiers detached from the main group for a very dangerous mission
a desperate undertaking; enterprise with very little chance of success
Origin: through confusion with hope
a faint hope

Origin: altered < Du verloren hoop, lit., lost group < verloren, pp. of verliezen, to lose (akin to forlorn) + hoop, a band, group; akin to heap

See forlorn hope in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

An arduous or nearly hopeless undertaking.
An advance guard of troops sent on a hazardous mission.

Origin:

Origin: By folk etymology from Dutch verloren hoop, advance guard

Origin: : verloren

Origin: , past participle of verliezen, to lose; see leu- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + hoop, troop

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