bedlam English · revision 26

+ ==Etymology==

+ From [[enm|Bedlem]], a form of ''Bethlehem'',^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) applied to the Hospital of St Mary of Bethlehem in London.^(AHD)^(OED 1989) Founded as a priory in 1247, it is mentioned as a hospital in 1330 and as a hospital for lunatics in 1402;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) in 1547 it was incorporated as a royal foundation for the reception of lunatics.^(OED 1989)

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+ The common noun “madhouse” appears in the early 16th century,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and the sense “scene of mad confusion” from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) ''Bethlehem'' itself is from [[grc|Βηθλεέμ]], from [[hbo|בֵּית לֶחֶם|tr=bêṯ leḥem|t=house of bread]].^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}