Noun

(en noun)

A place or situation of chaotic uproar, and where confusion prevails.

* 1872 : , The Complete Works of John Bunyan , p 133

Some of the wards were veritable "bedlams ," and dis-charged patients have told of abuses practiced in them of which the mere recital causes a shudder.

* 2002 : Mark L. Friedman, ''Everyday Crisis Management, p 134

The outside of the Hyatt was bedlam . There was a group of more than a hundred injured people on the circular drive in front of the hotel.

(obsolete) An insane person; a lunatic; a madman.

* Shakespeare

Let's get the bedlam to lead him.

(obsolete) A lunatic asylum; a madhouse.

* 1720 : , The works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson , p 43

But if any man should profess to believe these things, and yet allow himself in any known wickedness, such a one should be put into bedlam.

Noun

(en noun)

an artificial obstruction, such as a dam, in a river designed to increase its depth or to divert its flow

a heavy curtain of artillery fire directed in front of one's own troops to screen and protect them ()

a concentrated discharge of projectile weapons

* {{quote-book, year=2006, author=

, title=Internal Combustion , chapter=1 citation , passage=Blast after blast, fiery outbreak after fiery outbreak, like a flaming barrage from within,

(by extension) an overwhelming outburst of words, especially of criticism

(fencing) A "next hit wins" contest to determine the winner of a bout in case of a tie.