1824. R. B. Peake, Americans Abroad, i. 1. I guess—I'm madded, but I'll bite in my breath a bit—not that I'm sitch a tarnation fool as to believe all you tell me.
1848. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, p. 167. That nation is mad.
1871. New Era, April [De Vere]. The Squire's mad riz.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 189. My eye! won't he be just mad.
Like mad. See Like.
Mad as a hatter, phr. (colloquial).—Violently angry; crazy. [Hatter = atter = adder].
Mad as a March Hare, phr. (colloquial).—As mad as may be.
d. 1535. More, Supplycacion of Soulys, C. ii. As mad not as Marche hare, but as a madde dogge.
1597. Heywood, Epig., 95. As mad as a March hare; where madness compares, Are not Midsummer hares as mad as March hares?
1609. Fletcher, Wild-Goose Chase, iv. 3. They are all, all mad: I came from a world of mad women, mad as march hares.
1651. Tatham, Distracted State, iv. 1. My lord, 'tis done! I am as mad as a March hare upon 't.
1665. Homer à la Mode [Nares]. Therefore, ere since this cunning archer Has been as mad as any March hare.
1678. Cotton, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 73. Thy little Archer Has made our Dido mad as March-hare.
1754. Foote, The Knights, i. Mother's as mad as a March hare about it.
1760. George Colman, Polly Honeycombe, i. 4. She's downright raving—mad as a March hare.
d. 1796. Burns, Ep. to J. R., 13. It pits me ay as mad's a hare.
1841. Comic Almanack, p. 260. Vell, I've heard of mad as a March air, and precious mad I find it is, still I can't say as I care: as long as I get home safe.
1851. Notes and Queries, 20 Sept., p. 208. Perhaps the allusion to the well-known saying, as mad as a March hare, on this occasion was made without the collector of hareskins being aware of the existence of such a saying.
Madam, subs. (old).—1. A pocket-handkerchief;
a wipe (q.v.). Fr.
une fassollette.
1879. Macmillan's Mag., 'Autobiography of a Thief,' xl. 503. I tore up my madam, and tied the wedge in small packets.
2. (old).—A mistress.
d. 1634-5. Randolph, In Lesbiam, etc., in Wks. (London: 1875), p. 539. And yet has no revenues to defray These charges but the madam; she must pay His prodigal disbursements. Madams are To such as he more than a treble share.
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., iv. 139. Hide-Park may be called the market of madams.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
3. (colloquial).—A bold girl; an artful woman.
4. (old).—An ironical address.
1726. Gay, Beggar's Opera, ii. Air xx. Why, how now, madam flirt.
1790. The Busy Bee (quoted in), iii. 59. Every bush beat, And no signs of madam, no trace of her feet.
Madam Van, subs. phr. (old).—See
quot. For synonyms see Barrack-hack
and Tart.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Madam Van, a whore. The cull has been with Madam Van, the fellow has enjoyed such a one.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Madcap, subs. (old: now recognised).—A
whimsical humourist; a
rashling. Fr. un lanturlu. As
adj. = wild; freakish.
