From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bethlehem \Beth"le*hem\, n. [Heb. b[=e]th-lekhem house of food;
b[=e]th house + lekhem food, l[=a]kham to eat. Formerly the
name of a hospital for the insane, in London, which had been
the priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem. Cf. {Bedlam}.]
1. A hospital for lunatics; -- corrupted into {bedlam}.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Arch.) In the Ethiopic church, a small building attached
to a church edifice, in which the bread for the eucharist
is made. --Audsley.
[1913 Webster] Bethlehemite
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bedlam \Bed"lam\, n. [See {Bethlehem}.]
1. A place appropriated to the confinement and care of the
insane; a madhouse. --Abp. Tillotson.
[1913 Webster]
2. An insane person; a lunatic; a madman. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Let's get the bedlam to lead him. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. Any place where uproar and confusion prevail.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bedlam \Bed"lam\, a.
Belonging to, or fit for, a madhouse. "The bedlam, brainsick
duchess." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
bedlam
n 1: a state of extreme confusion and disorder [syn: {chaos},
{pandemonium}, {bedlam}, {topsy-turvydom}, {topsy-
turvyness}]
2: pejorative terms for an insane asylum [syn: {Bedlam}, {booby
hatch}, {crazy house}, {cuckoo's nest}, {funny farm}, {funny
house}, {loony bin}, {madhouse}, {nut house}, {nuthouse},
{sanatorium}, {snake pit}]
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