bethlehem

Beth"le*hem, n. Etym: [Heb. b house of food; b house + lekhem food, lakham to eat. Formerly the name of a hospital for the insane, in London, which had been the priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem. Cf. Bedlam.] 1. A hospital for lunatics; -- corrupted into bedlam. 2. (Arch.) Defn: In the Ethiopic church, a small building attached to a church edifice, in which the bread for the eucharist is made. Audsley.

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