[‘ Mania for ballooning; balloon madness.']
Pronunciation: Brit. /bəˈluːnəsi/, U.S. /bəˈlunəsi/
Forms: 18– *balloonacy*, 19– *ballunacy*.
Etymology:Blend of balloon n. and lunacy n. Compare earlier balloonatic n. and balloonomania n.
Mania for ballooning; balloon madness.
1864 /Daily Tel./ 19 Feb., We live in an age of balloonacy.
1882 /West. Daily Press/ 27 Mar. 3/1 A sharp epidemic of balloonacy.
1896 /Daily News/ 15 Feb. 5/3, I see that the Swedish Government has sent out a circular inviting the Geographical Society to assist him [/sc./ Dr. Andrée] in his balloonacy.
1907 /Bismarck (N. Dakota) Daily Tribune/ 8 Nov. 8/4 It is the latest fad; Balloonacy, Balloonacy, The world is airship mad!
1996 /Osiris/ 2nd. Ser. *11* 161 Victorian precision seemed at odds with Victorian ‘balloonacy’.