I. ˈfül noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French fol, from Late Latin follis, from Latin, bellows, bag; akin to Old High German bolla blister, balg bag — more at belly
Date: 13th century
1. : a person lacking in judgment or prudence
2.
a. : a retainer formerly kept in great households to provide casual entertainment and commonly dressed in motley with cap, bells, and bauble
b. : one who is victimized or made to appear foolish : dupe
3.
a. : a harmlessly deranged person or one lacking in common powers of understanding
b. : one with a marked propensity or fondness for something
a dancing fool
a fool for candy
4. : a cold dessert of pureed fruit mixed with whipped cream or custard
II. adjective
Date: 13th century
: foolish , silly
barking its fool head off
III. verb
Date: 1593
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to behave foolishly
told the children to stop their fool ing
— often used with around
b. : to meddle, tamper, or experiment especially thoughtlessly or ignorantly
don't fool with that gun
— often used with around
2.
a. : to play or improvise a comic role
b. : to speak in jest : joke
I was only fool ing
3. : to contend or fight without serious intent or with less than full strength : toy
a dangerous man to fool with
transitive verb
1. : to make a fool of : deceive
2. obsolete : infatuate
3. : to spend on trifles or without advantage : fritter — used with away