From Spanish 'bravada' (boast), from 'bravo' (fierce) — courage's counterfeit, the appearance of bravery without the substance.
A bold manner or show of courage intended to impress or intimidate.
From Spanish bravada (boast, brag, a show of courage), from bravo (brave, fierce, wild, courageous), from a source variously traced to Latin barbarus (barbarian, wild — possibly via metathesis) or to Latin pravus (crooked, wicked) with a semantic shift to fierce. The -ado suffix was remodelled to match pseudo-Italian forms like desperado. Spanish bravo also produced English bravery, brave, and the Italian musical term bravo (well done, literally you are bold). Bravado is distinguished from true bravery by its theatrical quality — it is courage's
The '-ado' ending was altered to match Italian words like 'desperado.' Bravado is courage's counterfeit — the appearance of bravery designed to conceal fear.