What is "to have a bee in the bonnet"

Bee \Bee\ (b[=e]), n. [AS. be['o]; akin to D. bij and bije, Icel. b[=y], Sw. & Dan. bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh. Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha. [root]97.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) An insect of the order Hymenoptera, and family Apid[ae] (the honeybees), or family Andrenid[ae] (the solitary bees.) See Honeybee.

   Note: There are many genera and species. The common honeybee ( Apis mellifica) lives in swarms, each of which has its own queen, its males or drones, and its very numerous workers, which are barren females. Besides the Apis mellifica there are other species and varieties of honeybees, as the Apis ligustica of Spain and Italy; the Apis Indica of India; the Apis fasciata of Egypt. The bumblebee is a species of Bombus. The tropical honeybees belong mostly to Melipoma and Trigona.

2. A neighborly gathering of people who engage in united labor for the benefit of an individual or family; as, a quilting bee; a husking bee; a raising bee. [U. S.]

   The cellar . . . was dug by a bee in a single day.
   --S. G. Goodrich.

3. pl. [Prob. fr. AS. be['a]h ring, fr. b?gan to bend. See 1st Bow.] (Naut.) Pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through; -- called also bee blocks. Bee beetle (Zo["o]l.), a beetle ( Trichodes apiarius) parasitic in beehives. Bee bird (Zo["o]l.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European flycatcher, and the American kingbird. Bee flower (Bot.), an orchidaceous plant of the genus Ophrys ( Ophrys apifera), whose flowers have some resemblance to bees, flies, and other insects. Bee fly (Zo["o]l.), a two winged fly of the family Bombyliid[ae]. Some species, in the larval state, are parasitic upon bees. Bee garden, a garden or inclosure to set beehives in; an apiary. --Mortimer. Bee glue, a soft, unctuous matter, with which bees cement the combs to the hives, and close up the cells; -- called also propolis. Bee hawk (Zo["o]l.), the honey buzzard. Bee killer (Zo["o]l.), a large two-winged fly of the family Asilid[ae] (esp. Trupanea apivora) which feeds upon the honeybee. See Robber fly. Bee louse (Zo["o]l.), a minute, wingless, dipterous insect ( Braula c[ae]ca) parasitic on hive bees. Bee martin (Zo["o]l.), the kingbird ( Tyrannus Carolinensis) which occasionally feeds on bees. Bee moth (Zo["o]l.), a moth ( Galleria cereana) whose larv[ae] feed on honeycomb, occasioning great damage in beehives. Bee wolf (Zo["o]l.), the larva of the bee beetle. See Illust. of Bee beetle. To have a bee in the head or To have a bee in the bonnet.

   1. To be choleric. [Obs.]

   2. To be restless or uneasy.
      --B. Jonson.

   3. To be full of fancies; to be a little crazy. ``She's whiles crack-brained, and has a bee in her head.''
      --Sir W. Scott.

Bonnet \Bon"net\ (b[o^]n"n[e^]t), n. [OE. bonet, OF. bonet, bonete. F. bonnet fr. LL. bonneta, bonetum; orig. the name of a stuff, and of unknown origin.]

1. A headdress for men and boys; a cap. [Obs.]
   --Milton.
   --Shak.

2. A soft, elastic, very durable cap, made of thick, seamless woolen stuff, and worn by men in Scotland.

   And p?i?s and bonnets waving high.
   --Sir W. Scott.

3. A covering for the head, worn by women, usually protecting more or less the back and sides of the head, but no part of the forehead. The shape of the bonnet varies greatly at different times; formerly the front part projected, and spread outward, like the mouth of a funnel.

4. Anything resembling a bonnet in shape or use; as,

   1. (Fort.) A small defense work at a salient angle; or a part of a parapet elevated to screen the other part from enfilade fire.

   2. A metallic canopy, or projection, over an opening, as a fireplace, or a cowl or hood to increase the draught of a chimney, etc.

   3. A frame of wire netting over a locomotive chimney, to prevent escape of sparks.

   4. A roofing over the cage of a mine, to protect its occupants from objects falling down the shaft.

   5. In pumps, a metal covering for the openings in the valve chambers.

5. (Naut.) An additional piece of canvas laced to the foot of a jib or foresail in moderate winds.
   --Hakluyt.

6. The second stomach of a ruminating animal.

7. An accomplice of a gambler, auctioneer, etc., who entices others to bet or to bid; a decoy. [Cant]

8. (Automobiles) The metal cover or shield over the motor; predominantly British usage. In the U.S. it is called the hood. [Brit.]

   Bonnet limpet (Zo["o]l.), a name given, from their shape, to various species of shells (family Calyptr[ae]id[ae]).

   Bonnet monkey (Zo["o]l.), an East Indian monkey ( Macacus sinicus), with a tuft of hair on its head; the munga.

   Bonnet piece, a gold coin of the time of James V. of Scotland, the king's head on which wears a bonnet.
   --Sir W. Scott.

   To have a bee in the bonnet. See under Bee.

   Black bonnet. See under Black.

   Blue bonnet. See in the Vocabulary.