dotty

[dot-ee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dotty ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, dot·ti·er, dot·ti·est. Informal.

crazy or eccentric.

feeble or unsteady in gait.

very enthusiastic or infatuated (usually followed by about or over).

Origin of dotty

1805–15; perhaps dott(ard) variant of dotard + -y¹

Related formsdot·ti·ly, adverbdot·ti·ness, noun

dotty

[dot-ee]

adjective, dot·ti·er, dot·ti·est.

marked with dots; dotted.

Origin of dotty

First recorded in 1805–15; dot¹ + -y¹

Related formsdot·ti·ness, noun

Dottie

or Dot·ty

[dot-ee]

noun

a female given name, form of Dorothea and Dorothy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for dotty

absurd, daft, demented, disturbed, eccentric, foolish, goofy, loony, nuts, nutty, odd, peculiar, queer, ridiculous, strange, twisted, unconventional, weird

Examples from the Web for dotty

Contemporary Examples of dotty

Gustav would later describe his ex-wife, quite accurately, as “dotty, romantic, and forever craving change.”
World War II’s Most Glamorous Spy: Christine Granville
Emma Garman
July 7, 2013
Abdul either provides heart or functions as the dotty aunt at the family picnic, depending on your point of view.
Calling Paula's Bluff
Kim Masters
August 5, 2009

Historical Examples of dotty

Dotty unrolled herself from the curtain with a triumphant smile.
Prudy Keeping House
Sophie May
Dotty tried to think there might be time enough, after all, to find the rings.
Prudy Keeping House
Sophie May
At the mention of rings, Dotty blushed, and stole a glance at Mrs. Allen.
Prudy Keeping House
Sophie May
Why, Dotty, I've excused you to Mrs. Pragoff, and it wouldn't be polite to go now.
Prudy Keeping House
Sophie May
Dotty, it seems, was feeling very much like a bitter-sour apple.
Prudy Keeping House
Sophie May

British Dictionary definitions for dotty

dotty

adjective -tier or -tiest

slang, mainly British feeble-minded; slightly crazy

British slang (foll by about) extremely fond (of)

marked with dots

Derived Formsdottily, adverbdottiness, noun

Word Origin for dotty

C19: from dot 1 : sense development of 1 from meaning of "unsteady on one's feet"

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

Word Origin and History for dotty

adj.

1812, "full of dots," from dot (n.) + -y (2). Meaning "silly" is from c.1400, in dotypolle "dotty poll" (i.e. "dotty head"), in which case the first element is from dote (v.).