Dictionary

doolally tap en · ADJ

Etymology

From Deolali (the name of a former British army camp 100 miles north-east of Bombay, used as a transit station for soldiers awaiting transport back to Britain) + tap (from Persian or Urdu تب (tab, “malarial fever”), ultimately from Sanskrit ताप (tāpa, “heat; fever”)). According to one suggestion, to go doolally tap was to go crazy while waiting.

Meanings

1. (UK) Mad, insane, eccentric.
   • If he had not paid her phone bills she would have gone doolally tap, as her mother used to say, without a friendly voice now and then. 2007, Martina Cole, Faces, unnumbered page:
   • Madam has gone quite definitely doolally tap, if you'll pardon the rather common expression. 1996, Erin Pizzey, Kisses, page 277:
   • Most thought that the prison sentence had sent me doolally tap. 1994, Julia Grant, Just Julia: The Story of an Extraordinary Woman, page 198:
   • Going a bit doolally-tap, if you ask me. Getting odd ideas. 1985, John E. Gardner, The Secret Generations, page 294:
   • The whole family think I've gone doolally-tap; all except Mick, that is. 1993, Catherine Cookson, My Beloved Son, page 355:

Forms

Deriveds

doolally

doolally tap en · NOUN

Etymology

From Deolali (the name of a former British army camp 100 miles north-east of Bombay, used as a transit station for soldiers awaiting transport back to Britain) + tap (from Persian or Urdu تب (tab, “malarial fever”), ultimately from Sanskrit ताप (tāpa, “heat; fever”)). According to one suggestion, to go doolally tap was to go crazy while waiting.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) Camp fever; by extension, madness, eccentricity.
   • 'He's got the doolally-taps,' she'd heard Bob say when they mentioned him, and he usually rolled his eyes and tapped his temple when he said it even though he didn't speak unkindly. 2009, Annie Murray, A Hopscotch Summer:
   • It would probably give Mrs Doughty an attack of the Doolally-tap. 2008, Amitav Ghosh, Sea of Poppies:
   • 'The Doolally tap,' my father would say, mysteriously, and McAllister would agree. 1994, Maurice Hayes, Seamus Heaney, Sweet Killough: Let Go Your Anchor:
   • Mrrhhhh, nothing wrong with me, sergeant, it's just the old Doolally Tap. 1971, Brian Aldiss, A Soldier Erect:

Forms