Etymology Dictionary

MAD,  insane, foolish.  (E.)   The vowel was formerly long.   M. E. mad, spelt maad in Li Beau Disconus, l. 2001, in Ritson's Met. Romances, vol. ii.; made in The Seven Sages, ed. Wright, 2091.   Stratmann also cites 'I waxe mod' (MS. mot) from Specimens of Lyric Poetry, ed. Wright, p. 31, where it rimes with blod = blood.   Cf. medschipe = madness; Ancren Riwle, p. 148, l. 1.—A. S. ge-mǽd, ge-maad, in a gloss (Lye); cf. A. S. mád-mód, madness, Grein, ii. 202. + O. Sax. ge-méd, foolish. + O. H. G. ka-meit, gi-meit, vain. + Icel. meiddr, pp. of meiða, to maim, hurt. + Goth. ga-maids, bruised, maimed; Luke, iv. 19, xiv. 13, 21.   β. Thus the orig. sense appears to be 'damaged,' or 'seriously hurt.'   Root uncertain.   ¶ Not connected with Ital. matto, mad (see Mate (2)); nor with Skt. matta, mad (pp. of mad, to be drunk).   Der. mad-ly, mad-ness; also M. E. madden, to be mad, Wyclif, John, x. 20 (obsolete); also madd-en, to make mad, for which Shak. uses the simple form mad, Rich. II, v. 5, 61, &c.; mad-cap (from mad and cap), K. John, i. 84; mad-house; mad-man, L. L. L. v. 2. 338; mad-wort. [†]

ADDENDA

Also M.E. med, Cursor Mundi, 24886.   Note the following glosses.   'Ineptus, gemǽdid;' Wright's Voc. ii. III, col. 2.   'Fatue, gemád,' id. 72, col. 2.   'Amens, gemǽd,' id. 5, col. 2.   'Vanus, gemaeded; Vecors, gemaad,' id. 123, col. 1 (8th century).   Referred by Fick, iii. 237, to the ✔MI, to diminish.