In The English Language, How Might The Word “Nutter” Have Come To Refer To Insanity Or Eccentricity?
In the late 16th Century in England, an increasing number of anti-Catholic laws were being passed. It was illegal to be a Roman Catholic priest and, indeed, to harbour and protect members of the Catholic clergy. The ultimate penalty for both of these crimes was death. At the time, hundreds of priests were being “martyred” because of their refusal to turn their back on Catholicism. One of these priests was Father Thomas Nutter, who, like many recusants, experienced the horrific death of being hanged, drawn and quartered. But on the gallows in York, so the story goes, Fr Nutter’s behaviour was so unusual that he rejoiced at his impending execution and ‘welcomed death as a spiritual marriage’. People watching were so amazed at his eagerness to be united to God. As a result, the term ‘nutter’ or ‘nutcase’ has entered into English as someone with a mental health problem.
