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barmy

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barmy¹

  • /ˈbɑːmi/ UK
  • /ˈbɑɹmi/ US

Sounds like balmy (RP) · Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)mi

Where it comes from

From barm (“foam rising upon beer or other malt liquors when fermenting, and used as leaven”) + -y (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of’ forming adjectives). Barm is derived from Middle English berm, berme (“foam rising upon ale or beer fermenting; leaven, yeast; foam or head of beer produced by pouring”) [and other forms], from Old English beorma (“foam or head of beer; leaven, yeast”), from Proto-West Germanic *bermō (“barm; yeast”); further etymology uncertain, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (“to boil; to brew”) or *gʷʰer- (“warm; hot”).

adjective barmier · barmiest

  1. also, archaic, figuratively Containing, covered with, or pertaining to barm (“foam rising upon beer or other malt liquors when fermenting, used as leaven in brewing and making bread”). [T]each thy Incubus to Poëtize, / And throvve abroad thy ſpurious Snotteries, / Vpon that puft-vp Lumpe of Barmy froth, […]
  2. archaic, figuratively Bubbling with activity or excitement; active, excited. Just now I've taen the fit o' rhyme, / My barmie noddle's working prime, […]

barmy²

  • /ˈbɑːmi/ UK
  • /ˈbɑɹmi/ US

Sounds like balmy (RP) · Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)mi

Where it comes from

Probably an alteration of balmy (“foolish; slightly crazy or mad, eccentric”), influenced by barm (“foam rising upon beer or other malt liquors when fermenting, and used as leaven”) (see etymology 1).

adjective barmier · barmiest

  1. Ireland, UK, archaic, informal Crazy, mad; also, eccentric, odd, strange. [T]he exercise yard of the "barmy fellows," as he called the madmen, (meaning, I suppose, that their brains were in an unnatural state of working,) was but a stone's throw from himself and his rational companions, […]
  2. Ireland, UK, archaic, informal Very foolish.

barmy³

  • /ˈbɑːmi/ UK
  • /ˈbɑɹmi/ US

Sounds like balmy (RP) · Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)mi

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Russian бармы (barmy).

noun

  1. Ireland, UK, archaic, informal, plural plural of barma (“a regal Russian mantle or neckpiece made of gold, encrusted with diamonds and other gems”)barma

barmy⁴

  • /ˈbɑːmi/ UK
  • /ˈbɑɹmi/ US

Sounds like balmy (RP) · Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)mi

Where it comes from

Clipping of bar mitzvah.

noun barmies · barmi · barmie

  1. Ireland, UK, archaic, informal bar mitzvah

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