Interestingly, in The Lord of the Rings Tom Bombadil is simply 'queer'.
In 'Bombadil Goes Boating' though he has 'gone mad as a coot'!
The phrase 'queer as a coot' was probably quite standard in Tolkien's time.
The phrase 'queer as a clockwork* orange' was probably less so.
*The original of that particular phrase probably was indeed (pace Ali G) this.
