Dictionary.com says "Section 8" is a synonym for "maniac". Have you ever heard this?

Question

I don't get it. Why does "section 8" mean "maniac"? What is "section 8"? All I can find is that its a type of public housing voucher program type thing. What has that got to do with mania?

Answer 1

It's from the military. section 8 refers to the disciplinary article for dealing with crazy recruits.



"The term Section 8 refers to a category of discharge from the United States military when judged mentally unfit for service"



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_8_%28military%29

Answer 2

Maniac Synonym

Answer 3

My brother crawled at 4 months. He was once a big baby, and it is entirely feasible. I know of different babies who failed to crawl 'til they were eight months, and some that on no account crawled in any respect; they only bought up and walked, one day... It rather varies, but one are not able to decide what other infants are or should not competent of, based on what their own youngster can or can't do. ;) To reply the query: my mom-in-law insists that my husband was once potty trained at 4 months... As in, thoroughly expert! Well, he wasn't; even my husbands' father admits that she exaggerates frequently the whole lot, and we have pictures of when he was *particularly* training (much to hubbys' embarrassment), which was once round 2.

Answer 4

In previous times the military used to refer to "Section 8" when discharging someone due to mental health problems.

Answer 5

ioerr is correct. If you've ever see the TV show MASH, Klinger was always acting nuts to get out on a Section 8.

Answer 6

That's because it's a dictionary, not a thesaurus. Thesaurus is where you look for synonyms.