Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵʰ-der.
Latin follis
Old French folbor.
Middle English fol
English fool
From Middle English fol (“fool”), from Old French fol (cf. modern French fou (“mad”)) from Latin follis. Doublet of fals and follis. Displaced native Old English dwæs.
Meanings
(informal) Foolish.
Of all the fool, fruitless jobs, making anything of a creature that begins by deceiving her, is the foolest a sane woman ever undertook. 1909, Gene Stratton-Porter, A Girl of the Limberlost:
That was a fool thing to do. You could have gotten yourself shot 2011, Gayle Kaye, Sheriff Takes a Bride:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
foolest
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
fooler
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
most fool
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
more fool
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
Deriveds
foolhardy (Terms derived from the adjective fool) · foolish (Terms derived from the adjective fool) · damnfool (Terms derived from the adjective fool)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵʰ-der.
Latin follis
Old French folbor.
Middle English fol
English fool
From Middle English fol (“fool”), from Old French fol (cf. modern French fou (“mad”)) from Latin follis. Doublet of fals and follis. Displaced native Old English dwæs.
Meanings
(derogatory) A person with poor judgment or little intelligence.
'If I coloured at all, Mr Edward,' said Joe, 'which I didn't know I did, it was to think I should have been such a fool as ever to have any hope of her. She’s as far out of my reach as—as Heaven is.' 1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 13.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume III, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC:
I like that you're broken
Broken like me
Maybe that makes me a fool 2017 April 13, Mitchy Collins, Samantha Derosa, Christian Medice, “Broken”, in Finding It Hard to Smile, performed by Lovelytheband:
The village fool threw his own shoes down the well.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools 1895, Rudyard Kipling, If—:
And every time I'm meant to be acting sensible
You drift into my head
And turn me into a crumbling fool. 2008, Adele, Crazy for You:
You were a fool to cross that busy road without looking.
No man is always a fool, every man is sometimes. 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter LII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume IV, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
You're just a poor misguided fool
Who thinks they know what I should do
A line for me and a line for you
I lose my right to a point of view. 2001, Starsailor, “Poor Misguided Fool”:
Erasmus, [...] saide wiselie that experience is the common scholehouse of foles, and ill men: Men of witte and honestie, be otherwise instructed. a. 1569 (date written), Roger Ascham, edited by Margaret Ascham, The Scholemaster: Or Plaine and Perfite Way of Teaching Children, to Vnderstand, Write, and Speake, the Latin Tong, […], London: […] John Daye, […], published 1570, →OCLC:
(historical) A jester; a person whose role was to entertain a sovereign and the court (or lower personages).
1896, Frederick Peterson IN Popular Science Monthly Volume 50 December 1896 , Idiots Savants
This court fool could say bright things on occasion, but his main use to the ladies and lords of the palace was to serve as victim to practical jokes, cruel, coarse, and vulgar enough to be appreciated perhaps in the Bowery.
A stock character typified by unintelligence, naïveté or lucklessness, usually as a form of comic relief; often used as a source of insight or pathos for the audience, as such characters are generally less bound by social expectations.
Someone who has been made a fool of or tricked; dupe.
Such clouds of nameless trouble cross
All night below the darken’d eyes;
With morning wakes the will, and cries,
‘Thou shalt not be the fool of loss.’ 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto IV”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
(informal) Someone who derives pleasure from something specified.
I'm a fool for the city. 1975, Foghat, "Fool for the City" (song), Fool for the City (album)
Can they think me […] their fool or jester? 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
(qualifier:chiefly African-American Vernacular, slang) An informal greeting akin to buddy, dude, or man.
Fame leaves out the house and walks to the BP gas station on Alabama Avenue. On the way there he sees his man Mark posted up at the rec center and walks over to holla at him. “What’s up fool?” Mark says while dapping Fame up. 2014, Hitta Lo, Bracing Season I, Kaleidoscopic Publishing, →ISBN:
“What up fool?” Lil Slim said noticing the seriousness in Lil Kilo’s voice. “You ain’t switched up on us have you.” Lil Fresh looked at Lil Kilo like where that come from. “Nigga I’ll neva switch up.” Lil Slim said feeling a little offended. 2018, Keith L. Bell, Drought Season Over: The Sequel, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN:
Upon opening the door, Trech was suddenly drawn aback by the shocking presence of the armed goon standing directly in front of him. “Yo, what up fool? […]” 2010, G.C. Deuce, From the Gutter to the Grave: An American Hood Novel, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 291:
“What up, fool?” he finally responded. “Not too much; fell asleep watching your boys get their asses kicked,” I told him, referring to the Carolina Cougars, the last team he played for before he got sick. 2012, Peron Long, Livin' Ain't Easy, Urban Books, →ISBN:
(qualifier:often capitalized Fool) A particular card in a tarot deck, representing a jester.
da tåbe (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl głupiec (tarot card) · fi narri (tarot card) · fi narri (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · uk бевзь (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs klaun (jester) · fa احمق (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · nb tosk (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru деби́л (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sq i marrë (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh šutnik (jester) · lv neprātis (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi houkka (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es besugo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl idiota (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · uk ду́рень (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · bn মূর্খ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · mi kāeaea (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it idiota (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl głupiec (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh šutnik (jester) · gsw Lööl (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · nl domme gans (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru идио́тка (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl alvardán (jester) · sv kräm (dessert) · ru болва́н (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pt louco (tarot card) · non leikari (jester) · ka იდიოტი (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · izh tuhkapää (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sv dåre (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ota طوی (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · lv stulbenis (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · tg аҳмақ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Tor (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Mus (dessert) · vi thằng ngu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi hassu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sl norec (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi typerys (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pdt Noa (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · bg тъпа́чка (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it buffone (jester) · km ល្ងីល្ងើ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ltg nagudrais (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · la stultus (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it stupido (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · he כְּסִיל (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · he שוטה (stock character) · be ду́рань (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · bg глупа́к (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · izh vohma (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · av ахӏмакъ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it giullare (jester) · izh tuhkapussi (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cmn 傻瓜 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · da nar (jester) · sc ballaloi (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · eo bufono (jester) · fr sot (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fa خنگ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es bufón (jester) · fr mat (tarot card) · ja 惚け (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sl bedak (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it folle (tarot card) · nb dust (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · uk кеп (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · bg кисел (dessert) · de -narr (one who derives pleasure from something specified) · pl tłumok (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · he שׁוֹטֶה (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cmn 愚人 (tarot card) · sl bizgec (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · lt kvailys (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · got 𐌿𐌽𐍅𐌹𐍄𐌰 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pt tolo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ur مورکھ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · xto āknats (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · yi גולם (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it cretino (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ca boig (tarot card) · fr fou (stock character) · es lonyi (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ast tontu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · bg шут (jester) · hu bolond (one who derives pleasure from something specified) · pl półgłówek (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl błazen (jester) · hu bolond (tarot card) · gl bufón (jester) · sh абдал (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ko 바보 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ja 道化師 (jester) · mk шут (jester) · gl babeco (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr idiot (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it buffone di corte (jester) · yue 愚人 (tarot card) · sh лу̏да (jester) · es taba (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh šȕt (jester) · sk hlupák (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · hu gyümölcsfelfújt (dessert) · ar مُغَفَّل (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · hy հիմար (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · id tolol (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ga leibide (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr andouille (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi marjarahka (dessert) · pl bałwan (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · apc حمار (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pt imbecil (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · el κάρτα ταρό (tarot card) · izh bolvana (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · af flous (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ast ñeciu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cmn 笨蛋 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · lv neprāte (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · da grødhoved (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh glupan (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru ду́рень (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru дура́к (stock character) · el γελωτοποιός (jester) · uk бла́зень (jester) · de Narr (jester) · yi נאַר (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it buffone (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs blázen (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gu મૂરખ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · he טִפֵּשׁ \ טיפש (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs pitomec (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · uk ду́рник (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh лудак (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl pallouco (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs blb (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pt burro (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · yi שוטה (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl bęcwał (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh lȕda (jester) · cv ухмах (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · si මැට්ටා (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · izh foofana (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ga baothán (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it imbecille (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl mascato (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es tonto (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · lv muļķis (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ja 愚者 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pt bobo da corte (jester) · es gilí (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · tr aptal (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl bolonio (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es lonyipietro (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es gila (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh лудак (jester) · izh tuhkuri (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sw fala (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ky келесоо (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · kk ақымақ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sv narr (jester) · kw pyst (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl matoł (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ms bodoh (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi pöljä (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ga óinseach (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr crétin (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · la mōra (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh abdal (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ar أَحْمَق (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh тупан (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · apc جحش (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ny chitsiru (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi tomppeli (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es imbécil (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ko 백치 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi idiootti (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gu ચોદુ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ja 愚か者 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr bouffon (jester) · ka დებილი (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Trottel (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Dummkopf (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · no narr (jester) · km អាឃ្លោក (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · th คนโง่ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es loco (tarot card) · cmn 傻子 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru идио́т (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ja 戯け (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pt bobo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · nb tulling (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · nl dwaas (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · et tola (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs šašek (jester) · gu મૂર્ખ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ca tros de quòniam (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · mi hākawa (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · hu udvari bolond (jester) · sh glupak (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi hupsu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sv fåne (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · nan-hbl 歁囝 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl babiolo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · hu bolond (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sc grìnci (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh buzda (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · mh bōkāro (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · eo stultulo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · bg глупе́ц (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs hlupák (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh глупан (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fa ابله (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi hovinarri (jester) · ko 광대 (tarot card) · hi मूर्ख (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · az axmaq (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · km អាងោះ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Ulenspiegel (jester) · gl doudo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pt bobo (jester) · gl paspán (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sl budalo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr fou (jester) · tr salak (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fo býttlingur (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · mk абдал (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi taukki (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · non fífl (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · hu hülye (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · eo malsaĝulo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · el ανόητος (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru скоморо́х (jester) · el τζουτζές (jester) · grc ἄφρων (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sv narr (stock character) · la mōrus (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr imbécile (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · da torsk (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru шут (jester) · uk те́лепень (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de der Narr (tarot card) · th ตุ่น (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gd òinseach (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru дура́к (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · id bego (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es pendejo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi hölmö (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · yi לץ (jester) · et loll (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · si මෝඩයා (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs ňouma (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ja あほ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl parvo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ka ბრიყვი (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi -hullu (one who derives pleasure from something specified) · fr dinde (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh будала (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl arlequín (jester) · ru тупи́ца (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh дворска луда (jester) · ta முட்டாள் (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi ääliö (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh dvorska luda (jester) · sh шу̏т (jester) · et tobu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs pošetilec (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · av гӏабдал (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · la scurra (jester) · uk йо́лоп (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · da fjols (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es bobo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sw mjinga (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ltg cuļss (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · be кеп (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh ludak (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cmn 蠢貨 /蠢货 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh budala (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · bn উন্দা বুন্দা (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sq idiot (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ka სულელი (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · so doqon (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · izh oolo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cmn 呆子 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · tr ahmak (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh bedak (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cmn 蠢人 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · nl dwazin (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl patafian (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · jv sontoloyo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · lo ຄົນໂງ່ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi höhlä (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru дурачок (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi narri (stock character) · cs blázen (tarot card) · ga amadán (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ar سَفِيه (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Närrin (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es gil (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sw juha (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · yi טיפּש (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru глупе́ц (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · lt juokdarys (jester) · ru дурале́й (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs blbec (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ro bufon (jester) · pl pacan (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · km មនុស្សល្ងីល្ងើ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · mi wawau (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl choucho (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it sciocco (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cmn 愚人 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · grc μωρός (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · unm kèpchat (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · izh hapalka (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fo dári (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi munapää (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs blboun (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl baran (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · bn বোকা (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it scemo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · lv muļķe (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · mi hukehuke (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi pöllö (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru балбе́с (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl błazen (stock character) · mi poroheahea (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi narri (jester) · mk будала (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ja アホ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · nl imbeciele (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sa दुर्मति (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it stolto (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi tampio (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · is bjáni (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pt idiota (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gd amadan (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr fou (tarot card) · txb aknātsa (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ast neciu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it oca (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · mi ngoungoua (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · tg аблаҳ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it matto (tarot card) · tr budala (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · gl lores (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de dumme Gans (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi hullu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · cs šašek (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl idiota (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr twit (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · hu gyümölcskrém (dessert) · th ควาย (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · tk paňkelle (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · hy խեղկատակ (jester) · nl imbeciel (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · scn babbu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · uz ahmoq (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · et narr (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es nescio (disused) (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ca beneit (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ru ду́ра (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ro prost (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sq lolo (jester) · fr abruti (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · he גולם \ גֹּלֶם (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Närrin (jester) · bg тъпа́к (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · zza gêc (diq) (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sl neumnež (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es bufón (tarot card) · sh глупак (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · non api (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sl bukselj (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · tk samsyk (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi höperö (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es sandio (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ja 馬鹿 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Narr (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · nl dwaas (tarot card) · bg абда́л (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · km អាភ្លើ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · vi kẻ ngốc (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi hedelmärahka (dessert) · fi daiju (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · es necio (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · xag 𐔵𐔰𐕌𐔰𐕙𐔰 (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Eulenspiegel (jester) · sk blbec (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · it pagliaccio (jester) · sh бузда (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · bg глупа́чка (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl dureń (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr personnage comique (stock character) · sq budalla (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sh ludak (jester) · my ဗာလ (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ky акмак (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi tollo (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · mt iqarqu (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sk blázon (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · mi pōrewarewa (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Pute (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fr couillon (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pt pamonha (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · izh durakka (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · fi pöhkö (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · de Törin (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · uz tentak (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sq gaztor (jester) · lv duraks (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · pl głupek (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · ca idiota (person with poor judgement or little intelligence) · sq palaço (jester) · az abdal (person with poor judgement or little intelligence)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵʰ-der.
Latin follis
Old French folbor.
Middle English fol
English fool
From Middle English fol (“fool”), from Old French fol (cf. modern French fou (“mad”)) from Latin follis. Doublet of fals and follis. Displaced native Old English dwæs.
Meanings
(transitive) To trick; to deceive.
There appears to be no process of gradually fooling oneself while degrading standards so characteristic of the Solid Rocket Booster or Space Shuttle Main Engine safety systems. 1986 June 6, Richard Feynman, “Personal observations on the reliability of the Shuttle”, in Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, Report to the President:
She bit it gently and found that it resembled a worm in no way whatsoever as to taste although because it was long and slender, a Little Red Hen might easily be fooled by its appearance. 1918, Florence White Williams, The Little Red Hen:
Liara: Do not be fooled by these civilized surroundings. This is a place of secrets and lies. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Noveria:
(intransitive) To act in an idiotic manner; to act foolishly.
She's always complaining that she got stuck with the worst possible committee. And that me and Jimmy fool more than we work. 1972, Judy Blume, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, page 56:
1681/1682, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar
Is this a time for fooling?
(archaic) To make a fool of; to make act the fool.
They fool me to the top of my bent. c. 1599 to 1601, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, III.ii.384
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fools
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
fooled
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
fooled
Tense=Past
lexicographic
fooling
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
Deriveds
foolability (Terms derived from the verb fool) · unfooled (Terms derived from the verb fool) · fool along (Terms derived from the verb fool) · more fool you (Terms derived from the verb fool) · shame on me (Terms derived from the verb fool) · unfool (Terms derived from the verb fool) · befool (Terms derived from the verb fool) · shame on you (Terms derived from the verb fool) · fool me once (Terms derived from the verb fool) · outfool (Terms derived from the verb fool) · foolable (Terms derived from the verb fool) · fool about (Terms derived from the verb fool) · fool around (Terms derived from the verb fool) · fool me twice (Terms derived from the verb fool) · misfool (Terms derived from the verb fool) · fooler (Terms derived from the verb fool) · fool up (Terms derived from the verb fool) · fool with (Terms derived from the verb fool)
Translations (73)
ja ばかにする (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · fi puliveivata (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · de verarschen (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu viccelődik (to play the fool, to act silly) · hu áltat (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ca enganar (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · it scherzare (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · de schwindeln (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · sk okabátiť (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · fr tromper (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · no narre (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · gl aparvar (to play the fool, to act silly) · it ingannare (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu a bolondját járatja (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · mi whakatūaho (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · it farsi beffe di s.o. (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu hülyéskedik (to play the fool, to act silly) · de betrügen (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · he הֵתֵל (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ru дури́ть (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · he עָבַד עַל (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu rászed (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ro se prosti (to play the fool, to act silly) · ro prosti (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · sh nasamáriti (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · fi puijata (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu lóvá tesz (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ru надува́ть (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · no lure (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · es engrupir (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · pt enganar (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · fr rouler (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · zza xapeynen (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu átver (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ro păcăli (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu idétlenkedik (to play the fool, to act silly) · mi whakaheahea (to play the fool, to act silly) · sh насама́рити (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · cs obelhávat (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ta ஏமாற்று (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ru обдури́ть (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · fi kusettaa (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · de täuschen (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · sv lura (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · tr kandırmak (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · de vormachen (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · gl cucar (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hy հիմարացնել (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · it fare lo sciocco (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · yi אָפּנאַרן (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · fi huijata (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · it dare a bere (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu becsap (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · fi narrata (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · es tomar el pelo (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ru дура́чить (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · cmn 糊弄 (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · vi trò đùa (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · el ξεγελάω (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · pl oszukać (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ru дура́читься (to play the fool, to act silly) · cs klamat (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · ru одура́чить (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · pt lograr (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · es engañar (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · fr duper (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu bolondít (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · hu bolondozik (to play the fool, to act silly) · hu viccel (to play the fool, to act silly) · nl in de maling nemen (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · gl enganar (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · nl bedriegen (to trick; to make a fool of someone) · cmn 愚弄 (to trick; to make a fool of someone)
fool en · NOUN · etymology 2
Etymology
From French fouler (“to trample”).
Meanings
A type of dessert made of puréed fruit and custard or cream.
Eton is renowned for its "messes," and "strawberry mess" is Empress of them all, with raspberry mess as a very good second. It does not at all convey the joys of a "mess" to say that it consists of iced fruit and cream, and somewhat resembles a "fool." It is a thing apart, and should be approached with bated breath and unimpaired capacity. 1913, Pearson's Magazine, volume 36, part 2, page 373:
Pellaprat [...] invented the dish [of Eton mess] when a load of over-ripe strawberries needed eating up. His disguise was a fluff of whipped cream and the fool was served with sponge fingers. Somewhere along the line, someone else had the idea of stirring chunks of meringue into the fool at the last moment. 2014, Lindsey Bareham, Just One Pot: