English
madman
Madman comes from Old English mann ‘person’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *mon- ‘man, human being’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*mon-‘man, human being’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*mann-‘human, human being, person, individual’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*mann‘person, human, individual’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150mann‘person’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mad-man
- Englishtodaymadman
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*mon-‘man, human being’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*mann-‘human, human being, person, individual’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*mann‘person, human, individual’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150mann‘person’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mad-man
- Englishtodaymadman
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *mon- ‘man, human being’
through Proto-Germanic *mann- ‘human, human being, person, individual’
men, mankind, munchkin, mannequin, mensch, shipman, mannish, 13 more
through Proto-West Germanic *mann ‘person, human, individual’
through Old English mann ‘person’
Today it means
noun A man who is insane or mentally disturbed.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *mon- / madman