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

Charles has previously said that people thought he was "completely dotty" when he started talking about environmental issues in the 1970s.

From BBC

I liked it when Luke Wilson showed up as the head of a wagon train leading a group of pioneers through Kansas Territory — a party that includes a pair of dotty Brits who assume their fellow travelers are their servants.

From Los Angeles Times

Long ago, the Pacific Coast Showmen’s Assn. bought a substantial plot and buried many of its members here, such as tightrope artist Mayme Butters, cowboy clown Dan Dix, and two circus fat ladies, Emilie Bailey and “Dainty Dotty” Jensen.

From Los Angeles Times

Versatile and assured, Sternhagen played women who were folksy, regal, plain-spoken and glamorous, although she had a special fondness for dotty eccentrics and snobby patricians.

From Seattle Times

And at last, we get the spectacle of Mullally unleashed as the apparently dotty, sort-of wheelchair-bound mom, lisping her way to glory.

From Los Angeles Times