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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