Tom o'Bedlam

noun

Tom o'Bed·​lam
-əˈbedləm
plural Tom o'Bedlams
: a wandering mendicant either mad or feigning to be so : bedlamite

Word History

Etymology

Tom (nickname for Thomas) + o' + Bedlam, popular name for the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem, London, England, an insane asylum

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Dictionary Entries Near Tom o'Bedlam

Cite this Entry

“Tom o'Bedlam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tom%20o%27Bedlam. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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