Where did the phrase Lunatic Fringe originate?

Why do we say that?

Researching the origins of words and phrases fascinates me. Do you know where the phrase Lunatic Fringe came from?

I’ll give you a hint: It has nothing to do with fringed bang hairstyle, as this silly essay attempts to explain.

Luna

Gone are the days of locking people up in lunatic asylums (although proper mental health services are sadly lacking in the US), but the mind and the way it works, and why things go wrong, are still being studied. There’s a lot...