dotty

¹

[ dot-ee ]

adjective

, Informal.

, dot·ti·er, dot·ti·est.

1. crazy or eccentric.
2. feeble or unsteady in gait.
3. very enthusiastic or infatuated (usually followed by about or over ).

dotty

²

[ dot-ee ]

adjective

, dot·ti·er, dot·ti·est.

1. marked with dots; dotted.

dotty

/ ˈdɒtɪ /

adjective

1. slang.
   feeble-minded; slightly crazy
2. slang.
   foll by about extremely fond (of)
3. marked with dots

Derived Forms

• ˈdottily, adverb
• ˈdottiness, noun

Other Words From

• dotti·ly adverb
• dotti·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dotty¹

1805–15; perhaps dott(ard) variant of dotard + -y ¹

Origin of dotty²

First recorded in 1805–15; dot ¹ + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dotty¹

C19: from dot ¹: sense development of 1 from meaning of "unsteady on one's feet"

Example Sentences

Murphy’s Countess is a dotty, conscientious woman awoken from her comfort and determined to claim it back.

From New York Times

He has also typically been blessed with actors skilled at selling dotty setups with deadpan ease.

From New York Times

So did a chunk of our dotty heads.

From Washington Post

Ms. Lansbury’s final competitive win — for best featured actress in a play — was for “Blithe Spirit,” a 2009 revival of the Noel Coward comedy in which she played a dotty clairvoyant.

From Washington Post

Mark’s home life is not without drama; unbeknown to him, since he has no memory of the office, Harmony lives next door, surveilling him in the guise of a dotty neighbor.

From New York Times