bonkers English · revision 2121

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbɒŋkəz/ ''(UK)''; /ˈbɑŋkɚz/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Etymonline) It may be from [[bonk]] “a blow” and the slang ending ''-ers'' as in [[crackers]],^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from the notion of a thump on the head.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Slightly drunk, in naval slang (1948).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The naval sense of being slightly drunk gave way in British slang to the general meaning “mad, crazy”,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) recorded from 1948 in the OED and from 1957 in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1948 – naval slang, slightly drunk.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1948 – mad, crazy.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1957 – British slang, crazy.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Crazy; mad.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bonk]]

+ * [[crackers]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}