Of course, as most English people (including me) are non-rhotic speakers, ‘balmy’ and ‘barmy’ are homophones.
Dick Holdstock:
October 19th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
And then there is the Barming Heath Lunatic Asylum built in Maidstone, Kent 1833. I understand you had to be Balmy to get in in 1850.
John:
June 7th, 2021 at 5:04 am
I saw a comment related to this where the implication was that balmy could also mean weak-minded but surely that is the word barmy.. unless I am wrong…???
John:
June 7th, 2021 at 5:08 am
Ah… as I suspected.. the two words merged a long time ago. FYI. Certainly in the UK.. balmy retains its original use as in mild weather and barmy only refers to weak-minded.. crazy would be a better modern use.
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Nik Berry:
March 6th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Of course, as most English people (including me) are non-rhotic speakers, ‘balmy’ and ‘barmy’ are homophones.
Dick Holdstock:
October 19th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
And then there is the Barming Heath Lunatic Asylum built in Maidstone, Kent 1833. I understand you had to be Balmy to get in in 1850.
John:
June 7th, 2021 at 5:04 am
I saw a comment related to this where the implication was that balmy could also mean weak-minded but surely that is the word barmy.. unless I am wrong…???
John:
June 7th, 2021 at 5:08 am
Ah… as I suspected.. the two words merged a long time ago. FYI. Certainly in the UK.. balmy retains its original use as in mild weather and barmy only refers to weak-minded.. crazy would be a better modern use.