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doolally

British  
/ duːˈlælɪ /

adjective

  1. In full: doolally tap. slang out of one's mind; crazy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of doolally

C19: originally military slang, from Deolali, a town near Mumbai, the location of a military sanatorium + Hindustani tap fever


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

I know it's been a difficult week but have these players gone doolally?

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2021

Mendes stopped and looked over at Fionnula Flanagan, a newcomer to the cast, who would play the doolally Aunt Maggie.

From The New Yorker ● Sep. 17, 2018

"Well, they're all doolally, deaf or asleep, so good luck to you," retorts Den – who's in for a surprise later.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 19, 2012

After Friday's match in Cardiff I was diverted with some doolally daydream doodles which helped down a few amiable late-night slurps.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 13, 2012

I asked incredulously—knowing that he had been a distinguished soldier, and suspecting that he had suddenly developed what the soldiers describe as "a touch of the doolally."

From Over the Fireside with Silent Friends by Richard King

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