bedlam
/ˈbɛdləm/
noun
Origin
Middle English
Bethlehem — House of Bread
Overview
Meaning Now
- A scene of uproar, confusion, or chaos.
- A scene of wild, mad, or disorderly activity.
Literal older meaning
A hospital for the mentally ill (archaic).
Language path
Middle English → English
Earliest form
Bedlem
Earliest period
15th century
Journey
The term originates from the Bethlehem Royal Hospital, known colloquially as Bedlam, which was one of the oldest institutions in the world for the care of the mentally ill. Over centuries, the hospital became infamous for its harsh conditions and the public displays of its patients, which led the name to shift from a specific geographic location to a general descriptor for any chaotic or noisy environment.
Evolution
- 1247
Bethlehem
“Priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem”
Founded as a priory in London.
- 1402
Bedlem
“Hospital for the insane”
The priory begins serving as a hospital for the mentally ill.
- 17th century
Bedlam
“An asylum; a scene of chaos”
The word enters common parlance to denote any place of noisy, disorganized behavior.
Connections
Word parts
Bedlam
root
London mental hospital
Related across languages
Hebrew
Beit Lehem
House of Bread
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Related to bedlam
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.