Where does “madhouse” come from?
Madhouse comes from English mad and house, where house derives from Middle English hus, from Proto-Indo-European éǵh₂ meaning to dwell.
madhouse (English): A house where insane persons are confined; an...
Definitions
- A house where insane persons are confined; an...
Ancestry of “madhouse”, step by step
madhouse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English House
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | House | A particular chamber of political representation |
| 2 | Middle English | hous | house, residence; house of worship, temple;... |
| 3 | Old English | hūs | dwelling, shelter, house; house |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hūs | house |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hūsą | house |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |
via English MAD
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | MAD | Initialism of mutually assured destruction;... |
| 2 | Middle English | mad | Mad, insane, deranged; not of sound mind;... |
| 3 | Old English | ġemǣd | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | maidijaną | to exchange, change |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | maidaz | hurt, wounded; mad, foolish; angry, enraged |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy- | soft, tender, dear |