English

Noun

madling ‎(plural madlings)

1. A mad creature; one who acts wildly or foolishly.
   • 1881, Benjamin Preston, Dialect and other poems, with glossary of the local words:

     A madling acts in opposition to common sense. He is an owd madling whose reason has become childish by the lapse of years.

   • 2006, Jacqueline Carey, Godslayer: Volume II of The Sundering:

     A madling was speaking to them; a woman. Dani stopped with a mind to retreat.

   • 2010, George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois, Songs of the Dying Earth:

     The madling—he had appeared today in the form of Austeri-Pranz, one of Vespanus' instructors at Roë, an intimidating man with bulging, rolling eyes and a formidable overbite—gave the question his consideration.

Etymology 2

Either from attributive use of madling (see above), or for maddling, present participle of maddle ‎(“to be mad”). More at maddle.

Adjective

madling ‎(comparative more madling, superlative most madling)

1. Mad; insane; crazy.
   • 1881, Benjamin Preston, Dialect and other poems, with glossary of the local words:

     To be madling is to have our ideas confused.

   • 2006, Jacqueline Carey, Godslayer: Volume II of The Sundering:

     The madling woman snatched the tray from his hands, giving it to the Fjeltroll to inspect.