Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A mad person.
  • An obsolete form of maddling.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A mad creature; one who acts wildly or foolishly.
  • adjective Mad; insane; crazy.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From mad +‎ -ling.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Either from attributive use of madling (see above), or for maddling, present participle of maddle ("to be mad"). More at maddle.

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Examples

  • Gooid-for-naught madling! ye desarve pining fro 'this to Churstmas, flinging t' precious gifts o '

    The Three Brontes Sinclair, May 1912

  • Gooid-for-naught madling! ye desarve pining fro 'this to

    The Three Brontës May Sinclair 1904

  • Gooid-for-naught madling! ye desarve pining fro 'this to Churstmas, flinging t' precious gifts o 'God under fooit i' yer flaysome rages!

    Wuthering Heights 1847

  • Gooid-for-naught madling! ye desarve pining fro 'this to Churstmas, flinging t' precious gifts o'God under fooit i 'yer flaysome rages!

    Wuthering Heights Emily Bront�� 1833

  • Gooid-for-naught madling! ye desarve pining fro’ this to

    Wuthering Heights 2002

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