Definition of "rhodomontade"

And do you, Georgy, contrive to tell Penrhyn all the particulars of this drowning affair; for I remember the bare facts being mentioned at Lord Penrhyns, and he will tell them with effect, avoiding rhodomontade without omitting pathos.

1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVIII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, page 236

He addressed himself directly to his guest with a torrent of rhodomontade; and the young man, reduced to helpless silence and shy, nodded his head at intervals to show that he took an intelligent interest.

1915, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter CXV, in Of Human Bondage, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company

“I cannot anſwer for their notions,” ſaid Heurthofen, “but I know, Madame, that owing to this abſurd notion, I narrowly eſcaped greater inconveniences even than thoſe I had paſſed through.” “Poor Heurthofen!” ſaid Madame de Roſenheim, who, though ſhe knew he was rhodomontading, had compaſſion alike for his late eſcape, and preſent confusion—[…]

1794, Charlotte Smith, chapter V, in The Banished Man. […], volume I, London: […] T[homas] Cadell, Jun. and W[illiam] Davies, (successors to Mr. [Thomas] Cadell) […], pages 100–101