A chaotic, noisy, or extremely disorderly place, or historically an asylum for people with mental illness.
Compound word from 'mad' (Old English 'gemǽded,' meaning insane) and 'house.' The term referred to actual asylums like Bedlam in London, then became metaphorical for any chaotic place by the 1700s.
Bedlam, the famous madhouse in London, was so notorious and chaotic that its name became the word 'bedlam' meaning any absolute mess—the building's reputation was so strong it literally changed the English language.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.