[fool] n [ME, fr. OF fol, fr. LL follis, fr. L, bellows, bag; akin to OHG bolla blister, balg bag--more at belly] (13c) 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 ~" "a ~ for candy"
4: a cold dessert of pureed fruit mixed with whipped cream or custard
[2]fool adj (13c): foolish, silly "barking its ~ head off" [3]fool vi (1593) 1 a: to behave foolishly "why old men ~ and children calculate --Shak."--often used with around b: to meddle, tamper, or experiment esp. thoughtlessly or ignorantly "don't ~ 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 ~ing"
3: to contend or fight without serious intent or with less than full strength: toy "a dangerous man to ~ with" ~ vt 1: to make a fool of: deceive
2. obs: infatuate
3: to spend on trifles or without advantage: fritter--used with away