definition of the word barmy

• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)mi
• Homophones: balmy

From Old English beorma (“‘yeast’”)

barmy (comparative barmier, superlative barmiest)

1. (rare) containing barm, i.e. froth from fermented yeast

Probably an alteration of balmy

barmy (comparative barmier, superlative barmiest)

1. (mainly Commonwealth) dotty, goofy, wacko.

   2004: The movie is sweet enough in its barmy way... -- Roger Ebert

• barmily
• barminess

• in US English, balmy is usual for sense (2); elsewhere this is occasionally found but some authorities consider it erroneous, despite its probable etymology.

• This page was last modified on 17 September 2008, at 16:58.
• Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License.
• Privacy policy
• About Wiktionary
• Disclaimers