bats in the belfry (1897)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

bats in the/one's belfry = 'crazy' (OED2 1901, HDAS 1899)

1897 _Indiana State Journal_ 27 Oct. 8/3 The latest slang expression
indicating doubt of a person's sanity is: "Aw, g'on; you've got bats
in yer belfry." -- Philadelphia Record.
[19th C. US Newspapers]


--Ben Zimmer

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