adj
doolally
Doolally (adj) means (informal) Behaving in a strange or crazy way; mad.
adj
1
(informal) Behaving in a strange or crazy way; mad.
"The cat scrap at the bridal bash only made him more doolally."
— Helen Cross, Amir (2009)
"But then, doolally as this enterprise clearly is, I've had the most pleasant day I can remember having in a long time."
— Simon Beaufoy, 38:50 from the start (2011)
"Likewise, the menopause market is obsessed with muscle wastage, and the possibility that if women don't eat enough protein after the age of 40 their minds will go doolally and their bones will turn to dust."
— Jo Ellison, The incredible bulk (2025)
2
(informal) So excited or delighted that you lose control.
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Etymology
From doolally tap (“camp fever; (by extension) eccentricity; madness”), with doolally interpreted as an adjective. Doolally is derived from the Deolali transit camp, a former British army camp about 100 miles (160 kilometres) northeast of Bombay, India, used as a transit station for soldiers awaiting transport back to Britain; while tap (“Indian malarial fever”) is from Persian or Urdu تب (tab, “malarial fever”), ultimately from Sanskrit ताप (tāpa, “fever; heat; pain, torment”).
Related words
Rhymes for doolally
See all rhymes for doolally →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of doolally?
"doolally" (adj) means (informal) Behaving in a strange or crazy way; mad.
What is another word for doolally?
Other words for "doolally" include bats, cracked, batty, bananas, barking, bonkers.
What are the different meanings of doolally?
"doolally" has 2 main meanings: 1. (informal) Behaving in a strange or crazy way; mad; 2. (informal) So excited or delighted that you lose control.
