doolally tap

Definition

Camp fever; by extension, madness, eccentricity.

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.

Example Sentences

• "Mrrhhhh, nothing wrong with me, sergeant, it's just the old Doolally Tap."
• "'The Doolally tap,' my father would say, mysteriously, and McAllister would agree."
• "It would probably give Mrs Doughty an attack of the Doolally-tap."