Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BARMY, BARMIE, adj.
1. Passionate.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
“A barmy quean,” a passionate woman.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 69:
Naething could tame the Douglas barmy bleed.
2. Flighty, foolish. Colloq. and vulgar (Un. Eng. Dict.), slang (Concise Eng. Dict.). Quots. in N.E.D. are mostly Scots.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 28:
Your barmy head, for ever plottin' wrang, May play'm a trick maybe afor't be lang.m.Sc. 1838 A. Rodger Poems and Songs 303:
He has a wife — gude saff us a'! A randy royt ca'd Barmy Betty.Rnf. 1808 R. Tannahill Poems and Songs (1876) 350:
The deevil dance your lady gab! . . . They're caller fish, as ane can wish; She needna miss a dainty dish, — But, barmy jade! she's winkin!
3. Fermenting with thought.Ayr. 1786 Burns To J. Smith iv.:
Just now I've taen the fit o' rhyme, My barmie noddle's working prime.
4. Combs.: (1) barmy-brained, giddy, foolish; (2) barmy faced, silly-looking.(1) Sc. 1824 Scott St Ronan's W. xxxii.:
A wheen cork-headed, barmy-brained gowks.(2) Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems II. 398:
She's barmy fac'd, thriftless and bauld.
